What is "niobids"

In Greek mythology, the Niobids were the children of Amphion of Thebes and Niobe, slain by Apollo and Artemis because Niobe, born of the royal house of Phrygia, had boastfully compared the greater number of her own offspring with those of Leto, Apollo's and Artemis' mother: a classic example of hubris.

The number of Niobids mentioned most usually numbered twelve ( Homer) or fourteen ( Euripides and pseudo-Apollodorus), but other sources mention twenty, four ( Herodotus), or eighteen ( Sappho). Generally half these children were sons, the other half daughters. The names of some of the children are mentioned; these lists vary by author:

• Bibliotheca: Agenor, Astycrateia, Astyoche, Cleodoxa, Damasichthon, Eupinytus, Ismenus, Neaera, Ogygia, Pelopia, Phaedimus, Phthia, Phylomache, Sipylus, Tantalus
• Hyginus: Archenor, Astycrateia, Astynome, Chias, Chloris, Cleodoxa, Damasichthon, Eudoxa, Eupinytus, Ismenus, Neaera, Ogygia, Phaedimus, Phthia, Sipylus, Tantalus, Thera
• Ovid: Alphenor, Damasichthon, Ilioneus, Ismenus, Phaedimus, Sipylus, Tantalus; the daughters' names are not given.
• Scholiast on Euripides: Alalcomeneus, Eudorus, Argeius, Lysippus, Phereus, Xanthus, Chione, Clytia, Hore, Lamippe, Melia, Pelopia (according to Pherecydes); Archenor, Archagoras, Menestratus, [one son's name missing], Astycrateia, Ogygia, Pelopia (according to Hellanicus)
• Lactantius Placidus: Antagorus, Archemorus, Eupinytus, Phaedimus, Sipylus, Tantalus, Xenarchus, Astycrateia, Chloris, Cleodoxe, Neaera, Ogime (=Ogygia?) Pelopia, Phegea

Other different names were also mentioned, including Amyclas and Meliboea (also in Apollodorus, see below).

Manto, the seeress daughter of Tiresias, overheard Niobe's remark and bid the Theban women placate Leto, in vain. Apollo and Artemis slew all the children of Niobe with their arrows, Apollo shooting the sons, Artemis the daughters. According to some sources, however, two of the Niobids who had supplicated Leto were spared: Apollodorus gives their names as Meliboea (Chloris) and Amyclas. Another apparent survivor is Phylomache, who is mentioned by Apollodorus as one of the two possible spouses of Pelias.

The Niobids were buried by the gods at Thebes. Ovid remarked that all men mourned Amphion, for the extinction of his line, but none mourned Niobe save her brother Pelops.