In Greek mythology, the Graeae (Ancient Greek: Γραῖαι; /ˈɡriːiː/; English translation: "old women", alternatively spelled Graiai and Graiae) were three sisters who had gray hair from their birth and shared one eye and one tooth among them.[1] They were also called the Grey Sisters and the Phorcides ("daughters of Phorcys")[2]
The word Graeae is probably derived from the adjective γραῖαgraia "old woman", derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵerh₂-*ǵreh2-, "to grow old" via Proto-Greek: *gera-/grau-iu.[3]
Mythologyedit
The Graeae were daughters of the sea-deities Ceto and Phorcys (from which their name the Phorcydes derived) and sisters to the Gorgons.[4] The Graeae took the form of old, grey-haired women. Their age was so great that a human childhood for them was hardly conceivable. In Theogony, however, Hesiod describes the Graeae as being "fair-cheeked". In Prometheus Bound, the Graeae are described as being swan-shaped ("κυκνόμορφοι")[5]
Hesiod names only two Graeae, the "well-clad" Pemphredo (Πεμφρηδώ "alarm") and the "saffron-robed" Enyo (Ἐνυώ).[6]Pseudo-Apollodorus lists Deino (Δεινώ "dread", the dreadful anticipation of horror) as a third.[7] Calling them "Phorcides", Hyginus, in addition to Pemphredo and Enyo, adds Persis noting that "for this last others say Dino".[8]
They shared one eye and one tooth, which they took turns using. By stealing their eye while they were passing it among themselves, the hero Perseus forced them to tell the whereabouts of the three objects needed to kill Medusa (in other versions, the whereabouts of Medusa) by ransoming their shared eye for the information.[4]
^ Most sources describe Medusa as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, though the author Hyginus (Fabulae Preface) makes Medusa the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto.
Referencesedit
^Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Graeae
^R. S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009, p. 285.
^ abHarris, Stephen L., and Gloria Platzner. Classical Mythology: Images and Insights (Third Edition). California State University, Sacramento. Mayfield Publishing Company. 2000, 1998, 1995, pp. 273–274, 1039.
^Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.4.2; Pemphredo, sometimes also spelled Peuphredo (Πευφρηδώ) or Pephredo (Πεφρηδώ) (see M. Hofinger, Lexicon Hesiodeum cum Indice Inverso, p. 533.
^Homer. Odyssey. 1.70–73. names Thoosa as a daughter of Phorcys, without specifying her mother.
Bibliographyedit
Apollodorus, Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
Apollodorus, Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
Grimal, Pierre, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Wiley-Blackwell, 1996, ISBN978-0-631-20102-1. "Graeae" p. 175.
Hesiod, Theogony, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, Massachusetts., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
Hyginus, Gaius Julius, The Myths of Hyginus. Edited and translated by Mary A. Grant, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960.
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This article is about Greek mythology For the British organization see Graeae Theatre Company Not to be confused with Graea In Greek mythology the Graeae Ancient Greek Graῖai ˈ ɡ r iː iː English translation old women alternatively spelled Graiai and Graiae were three sisters who had gray hair from their birth and shared one eye and one tooth among them 1 They were also called the Grey Sisters and the Phorcides daughters of Phorcys 2 Contents 1 Names 2 Etymology 3 Mythology 4 Genealogy 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksNames editTheir names were Deino or Dino Deinw Enyo Ἐnyw Pemphredo Pemfrhdw or Pephredo Pefrhdw Etymology edit nbsp Perseus Returning the Eye of the Graiai by Henry Fuseli The word Graeae is probably derived from the adjective graῖa graia old woman derived from the Proto Indo European root ǵerh ǵreh2 to grow old via Proto Greek gera grau iu 3 Mythology editThe Graeae were daughters of the sea deities Ceto and Phorcys from which their name the Phorcydes derived and sisters to the Gorgons 4 The Graeae took the form of old grey haired women Their age was so great that a human childhood for them was hardly conceivable In Theogony however Hesiod describes the Graeae as being fair cheeked In Prometheus Bound the Graeae are described as being swan shaped kyknomorfoi 5 nbsp Perseus and the Graeae by Edward Burne Jones 1892 Hesiod names only two Graeae the well clad Pemphredo Pemfrhdw alarm and the saffron robed Enyo Ἐnyw 6 Pseudo Apollodorus lists Deino Deinw dread the dreadful anticipation of horror as a third 7 Calling them Phorcides Hyginus in addition to Pemphredo and Enyo adds Persis noting that for this last others say Dino 8 They shared one eye and one tooth which they took turns using By stealing their eye while they were passing it among themselves the hero Perseus forced them to tell the whereabouts of the three objects needed to kill Medusa in other versions the whereabouts of Medusa by ransoming their shared eye for the information 4 Genealogy editMain article Greek sea gods Gaia Pontus NereusThaumasPhorcysCetoEurybia EchidnaThe GorgonsThe GraeaeLadonThe HesperidesThoosa 9 SthenoDeino EuryaleEnyo Medusa a PemphredoNotes edit Most sources describe Medusa as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto though the author Hyginus Fabulae Preface makes Medusa the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto References edit Harry Thurston Peck Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities 1898 Graeae Sommerstein p 260 in Aeschylus Fragments Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 790 800 pp 530 531 with n 94 Apollodorus 1 2 6 Hyginus Fabulae Preface R S P Beekes Etymological Dictionary of Greek Brill 2009 p 285 a b Harris Stephen L and Gloria Platzner Classical Mythology Images and Insights Third Edition California State University Sacramento Mayfield Publishing Company 2000 1998 1995 pp 273 274 1039 Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 795 Hesiod Theogony 270 274 Pseudo Apollodorus Bibliotheca 2 4 2 Pemphredo sometimes also spelled Peuphredo Peyfrhdw or Pephredo Pefrhdw see M Hofinger Lexicon Hesiodeum cum Indice Inverso p 533 Hyginus Fabulae Preface Homer Odyssey 1 70 73 names Thoosa as a daughter of Phorcys without specifying her mother Bibliography editApollodorus Apollodorus The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer F B A F R S in 2 Volumes Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1921 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Aeschylus Fragments Edited and translated by Alan H Sommerstein Loeb Classical Library No 505 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press 2009 ISBN 978 0 674 99629 8 Online version at Harvard University Press Aeschylus Persians Seven against Thebes Suppliants Prometheus Bound Edited and translated by Alan H Sommerstein Loeb Classical Library No 145 Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press 2009 ISBN 978 0 674 99627 4 Online version at Harvard University Press Apollodorus Apollodorus The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer F B A F R S in 2 Volumes Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1921 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Grimal Pierre The Dictionary of Classical Mythology Wiley Blackwell 1996 ISBN 978 0 631 20102 1 Graeae p 175 Hesiod Theogony in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G Evelyn White Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press London William Heinemann Ltd 1914 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library Hyginus Gaius Julius The Myths of Hyginus Edited and translated by Mary A Grant Lawrence University of Kansas Press 1960 Smith William Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology London 1873 Graeae External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Graeae The Theoi Project GRAIAI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Graeae amp oldid 1201396199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
