In
Greek mythology,
Lycurgus (also
Lykurgos,
Lykourgos) was the king of the
Edoni in
Thrace, son of
Dryas, the "oak", and father of a son whose name was also Dryas. He banned the cult of
Dionysus. When Lycurgus heard that Dionysus was in his kingdom, he imprisoned Dionysus's followers, the
Maenads, or drove them and Dionysus out of Thrace with an ox-goad. Dionysus fled, taking refuge in the undersea grotto of
Thetis the sea nymph.