Lycaon was an ancient king of Arcadia, who had fifty sons. One day, Zeus visited Lycaon disguised as a beggar. His sons (and some say Lycaon himself) set before the god a meal mixed with the flesh of a child.

Zeus, in his wrath, overturned the table, and blasted Lycaon and his sons with bolts of lightning. Only one son was said to of survived, Nyctimus, who was also said to be the child who's flesh was served up before the god.

In another version of the myth it was the flesh of Arcas, The grandson of Lycaon and the son of Zeus himself, which was mixed up in the meal for the god. Zeus restored his son to life but blasted his wicked uncles with thunderbolts, while transforming Lycaon into a wolf.

In consequence to the actions of Lycaon and his sons, Zeus flooded the world to wipe out mankind.