Autolycus

Autolycus is a name used in Greek mythology and in later literary and scientific uses. In myth, Autolycus is described as the son of the god Hermes and a mortal woman, with various minor versions of his lineage. He is known as a skilled thief and trickster, famed for his craft in deception and sleight of hand, and he is sometimes associated with teaching or exemplifying cunning. In traditional genealogies he is said to be the father of Anticlea, making him the grandfather of Odysseus. Accounts vary on details, and there are not many surviving stories in which Autolycus plays a major dramatic role, but he appears as a symbol of nimble wit and cunning in some sources.

In English literature, Autolycus appears as a character in William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. This Autolycus is a roguish peddler and wanderer who travels with a companion; through song, verse, and wits he interacts with the play’s protagonists, offering comic relief and manipulating those who cross his path. The character bears little formal connection to the mythic figure beyond the name, but he embodies the same traits of charm and trickery.

The name Autolycus is also used in astronomy to denote a lunar impact crater on the Moon, named after the mythological figure. The Autolycus crater is a notable feature used in the observation of the Moon’s surface, reflecting the convention of honoring mythic names in lunar geography.