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[German version] (Πρόκνη/ Próknē, Lat. Progne, Procne). Daughter of the Attic king Pandion [1], wife of  Tereus, sister of Philomela. Out of gratitude for support in a war, P.'s father gives her in marriage to the Thracian Tereus. In Thrace her son Itys is born. When P. wishes to see her sister Philomela, Tereus is supposed to bring her from Athens to Thrace. He violates her on the way, cuts out her tongue to secure her silence and hides her in the country. Philomela weaves what happened to her into a…

[German version] (Ἁρμονία; Harmonía). Daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, wife of  Cadmus, mother of  Ino,  Semele,  Agave,  Autonoe and  Polydorus (Hes. Theog. 933-937; 975-978; Apollod. 3,25). The wedding of Cadmus and H., for which the gods bring along opulent presents (i.a. a necklace made by Hephaestus and a  peplos, in Alcmaeon [1], Amphiaraus), was a popular topic (Pind. Pyth. 3,88-92; Paus. 3,18,12; Apollod. 3,25). The bridal song is sung by the Muses (Thgn. 15-18). At the end of their life, Ca…

(Μελανίππη; Melaníppē). [German version] [1] Daughter of Aeolus Daughter of Aeolus [1], the son of Hellen, and of Hippe [2], the daughter of the centaur Chiron. Mother by Poseidon of the twins Aeolus [3] and Boeotus. M. was the protagonist in two fragmentarily surviving tragedies by Euripides: Μ. ἡ σοφή (‘The Wise M.; TGF 479-487) and Μ. ἡ δεσμῶτις (‘M. Bound; TGF 488-514). In the older ' Wise M.' (set in Thessaly), it is told how in the absence of her father Aeolus, M. becomes the mother of two sons by Poseidon. Although she exposes the children, they survive a…

(Στερόπη/ Sterópē, Ἀστερόπη/ Asterópē '(flash of )lightning'; Ἀερόπη/ Aërópē). [German version] [1] One of the Pleiades One of the Pleiades, the seven daughters of Atlas [2] and Pleione (Hes. fr. 169 M.-W.; Apollod. 3,110; Paus. 5,10,6), mother by Ares of Oenomaus [1] (Hellanikos FGrH 4 F 19a; Eratosth. Katasterismoí (epitome) 23; cf. Tzetz. on Lycoph. 149). There is a depiction of S. on the frieze of the eastern gable at Olympia (Paus. 5,10,6; [2. 809 no. 5]), dated to the second quarter of the 5th cent. BC. She is also called Asterope or Aerope (Hes. fr. 169; Hyg. Fab. 84). Waldner, Kathar…

[German version] (Πολυκρίτη/ Polykrítē). Heroine of Naxos who, by a ruse, saves her hometown when it is besieged by the Milesians and Erythreans: she is left behind in a sanctuary before the city of Naxos [1] and taken prisoner by Diognetus, the leader of the Erythreans. Since he does not dare to rape her in the sanctuary, he tries to win her over by persuasion. She agrees under the condition that he swears to grant her request first. When Diognetus agrees, P. requests that he betray his allies, th…

(Ἱπποδάμεια/ Hippodámeia, Ἱπποδάμη/ Hippodámē, Latin Hippodamia). [German version] [1] Daughter of king Oenomaus Daughter of king  Oenomaus of Pisa and Sterope (Paus. 5,10,6). Because an oracle prophesied his murder by the future son-in-law (Diod. Sic. 4,73,2), or because he himself desires H. (Hyg. Fab. 253), Oenomaus prevents H.'s marriage by challenging her many suitors (Hes. Cat. fr. 259a; Pind. Ol. 1,128; Paus. 6,21,10f.; Epimenides, FGrH 457 fr. 14) to a chariot race, during which he defeats and kills …

[German version] (Λυσίππη; Lysíppē). Daughter of Proetus and Stheneboea (Apollod. 2,25-26). Because she sinned against the gods, L. goes mad together with her sisters Iphianassa [1] and Iphinoe, but is then cured by Melampus (Apollod. 2,26-29; cf. Hes. Cat. fr. 37,10-15; 131; 133). Waldner, Katharina (Berlin)

(Ἁρπαλύκη; Harpalýkē). [German version] [1] Huntress and livestock thief Daughter of the Thracian king Harpalycus who, after the death of her mother, raises her with cow's and mare's milk and trains her to be a warrior. After his death, she lives as a livestock thief and hunter until she is captured with a net and killed. Ritual fighting took place at her grave (Serv. Auct. Aen. 1,317; Hyg. Fab. 193). The oldest reference to her can be found in Virgil (Aen. 1,317) for whom H. served as a model of  Camilla (Verg. Aen. 11,532-915). Waldner, Katharina (Berlin) [German version] [2] Daughter of Ep…

(Λυσιδίκη; Lysidíkē). [German version] [1] Daughter of Pelops and Hippodamia Daughter of Pelops and Hippodamia [1], wife of Mestor, mother of Hippothoe (Apollod. 2,50). According to a tradition dismissed by Paus. 8,14,2, the mother of Amphitryon and hence the wife of Alcaeus. According to schol. Pind. Ol. 7,49, the wife of Electryon, mother of Alcmene (cf. also Plut. Thes 7,1 and schol. Pind. Ol. 7,50). All the husbands of L. who appear in the tradition are sons of Perseus. Waldner, Katharina (Berlin) [German version] [2] Female companion of Theseus and Ariadne On the François Vase (5…

[German version] (Μήστρα; Mḗstra). Daughter of Helios's son Aethon [2]. According to Hes. Cat. fr. 43c, Mestra received from Poseidon the gift of transforming herself. The legend was first recorded in detail at the time of the Roman Empire: Mestra helps her father, whose punishment from Demeter makes him suffer ravenous hunger, by allowing him to sell her, but she uses Poseidon's gift to turn herself into an animal and return to her father to be sold again (Ov. Met. 8,738f.; cf. also schol. Lykophr…

[German version] (Πασιφάη/ Pasipháē). Daughter of Helios and of Perse(is) (Apoll. Rhod. 3,998-1001; Apollod. 3,1,2; Paus. 3,26,1; Ov. Met. 9,736 amongst others; according to Plut. Agis 9, the daughter of Atlas [2], according to Diod. Sic. 4,60, the daughter of Crete), sister of Aietes, Calypso, Circe and Perses [2], wife of the Cretan king Minos (Apollod. 3,1,2,; Diod. Sic. 4,77 amongst others), mother of Ariadne and Phaedra. Minos asks Poseidon to make a bull appear out of the sea as a sacrificial animal in order to legitimize his claim to power in Crete. Howe…

[German version] (Οἰνοτρόποι; Oinotrópoi). The three daughters of Dorippe and Anius, the mythical first king of Delos: Oino ('Wine-Maid'), Spermo ('Corn-Maid') and Elais ('Oil-Maid'). On their way to Troy, Anius tries to persuade the Greeks to stay with him for nine years and be fed by the O., in order then to conquer Troy in the 10th year (Kypria PEG I fr. 19). The O. have from Dionysus the ability to conjure up corn (schol. Lycoph. 570), wine and oil (Lycoph. 577-580). According to Ovid, everythi…

[German version] (Φαίδρα/ Phaídra, Latin Phaedra). Daughter of Minos and Pasiphae, second spouse of Theseus, mother of Demophon [2] and Acamas. P. loves her stepson Hippolytus [1]. She tries in vain to seduce him and accuses him of having raped her. Theseus asks Poseidon to destroy Hippolytus. The god sends a bull from the sea, which gives such a fright to Hippolytus' horse-team, that he is killed in the accident. P. commits suicide when her love for Hippolytus becomes public (Ps.-Apollod. epit. 1,17…

[German version] (Θυώνη; Thyṓnē). Name of Semele after her assumption among the gods (Diod. 4,25,4; Apollod. 3,38). The earliest evidence is in Sappho (fr. 17,10 Voigt) and Pindar (P. 3,98-99). T. also appears sporadically as the nurse of Dionysus (e.g. Panyassis fr. 5). The latter receives from her the epithet Thyonidas (Hesych. s. v.), Latin Thyoneus (e.g. Hor. Carm. 1,17,23; Ov. Met. 4,13 et passim). Waldner, Katharina (Berlin) Bibliography A. Kossatz-Deissmann, s.v. Semele, LIMC 7.1, 718-726  K. Preisendanz, s.v. T., RE 6 A, 735-736  J. Schmidt, s. v. T., Roscher 5, 926-92…

[German version] (Λύσσα, Λύττα; Lýssa, Lýtta). Personification of (battle) rage and madness. She appears as an independent person for the first time in 5th-cent. tragedy; according to Eur. HF 822-899 she is descended from Nyx and the blood of Uranus that the latter sheds when he is castrated by Kronos. Homer mentions the state of lyssa, but she is not a person (Hom. Il. 8,299; cf. also 9,239; 304f.). As such she appears for the first time in Aeschylus in the Xántriai (TrGF III fr. 169) where she spurs on the Minyades - struck with madness by Dionysus - to kill a human being …

(Ψαμάθη/ Psamáthē, Ψαμάθα/ Psamátha, Ψαμάθεια/ Psamátheia). [German version] [1] Nereid Nereid (Hes. Theog. 260; Apollod. 1,12). The mother of Phocus [1] by Aeacus (Hes. Theog. 1004 f.; Pind. Nem. 5,13). Like her sister Thetis, who resisted marriage to Peleus, P. escaped marriage with Aeacus by transforming into a seal (Apollod. 3,158). According to Eur. Hel. 6-14, she later became the wife of Proteus and the mother of Theoclymenus and Theonoë by him. Because Peleus killed her son Phocus, she sent a rapac…

[German version] (Ὀμφάλη; Omphálē). Mythical queen of the Lydians (Lydia). She is the daughter of Iardanus and becomes queen as successor to her husband Tmolus (Apollod. 2,6,3; Diod. 4,31). Heracles [1] is the father of her sons Lamus [2] and Agelaus [3] (e.g. Apollod. 2,7,8; Ov. Epist. 9,54). According to Clearchus of Soli (fr. 43a Wehrli), she and other Lydian women are raped and as queen she takes her revenge by forcing free women to sleep with slaves. Heracles is sold abroad as a punishment for killing his host Iphitus and performs the duties of a slave for O. (Soph. …

[German version] (Ἰόλη; Iólē). Daughter of  Eurytus [1], king of Oechalia, and Antioche (Hes. Cat. fr. 26,31a), sister of  Iphitus, who was murdered by Heracles (cf. Hom. Od. 21,11-41). Although Heracles wins I. in the archery contest arranged by Eurytus, the latter refuses to give him his daughter (Pherecydes FGrH 3 F 82a; Apollod. 2,6,1-3; Diod. Sic. 4,31,37). In revenge for the period of servitude with  Omphale imposed on him as retribution for the murder of Iphitus, Heracles destroys Oechalia a…

(Περίβοια; Períboia). Name of numerous mythical women, including: [German version] [1] Naiad, mother by Icarius of Penelope Naiad, mother by Icarius [2] of Penelope (Apollod. 3,126). Waldner, Katharina (Berlin) [German version] [2] Youngest daughter of Eurymedon, King of the Titans Youngest daughter of Eurymedon [1], king of the Titans, mother by Poseidon of the first Phaeacian king Nausithous [1] (Hom. Od. 6,56-59). Waldner, Katharina (Berlin) [German version] [3] One of the first two girls chosen by lots to pacify Athena One of the first two girls chosen by lots, to be se…

[German version] [1] Arcadian nymph (Σύριγξ; Sýrinx). Arcadian nymph. Fleeing from Pan, who intends to violate her, she is transformed beside the River Ladon into a reed, from which Pan constructs a flute (named after him) (S. [2]). From then on the shepherd's flute is considered to be an instrument expressing longing for love (Ov. Met. 1,690-712). Numerous allusions show that the tale was known not only in Latin verse, but also in Greek, no later than the Hellenistic Period (Longus 2,34 f.; Ach. Tat. …