He was only one year old when his father died: the regency was entrusted to his great-uncle Lycos. When he reached his majority, Laïos, instead of ascending the throne, was driven from Thebes and found asylum with King Pelops. The latter entrusted him with his son Chrysippus, asking him to teach him the art of driving a chariot. Laïos falls in love with his young student, kidnaps him during a chariot race and rapes him. Overwhelmed with shame, Chrysippus would have hanged himself.
