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Goddesses of Ancient Greece - E
Echidna
(Echidne) Echidna is the mate of Typhon and the daughter of Ceto. She
is a Winter Snake goddess with the head of a beautiful nymph and the body
of a serpent. Zeus spared her life and those of her children as challenges
to futures heroes. Echidna's children are the Nemean Lion, Cerberus, Ladon,
Chimera, Sphinx, and Hydra.
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Echo
The chief god Zeus had many affairs with both mortals and gods, much to
his wife's dislike. While he pursued his amours, it was Echo's duty to
beguile Hera's attention by incessantly talking to her. Hera discovered
the ruse and as punishment, she made Echo always repeat the voice of another.
Echo was a very beautiful and musical nymph. She could sing and play many
instruments. She lived deep in the woods and denied the love of any man
or immortal. She therefore attracted the hatred and anger of many, including
the god Pan whose love she turned down. Pan caused his followers the shepherds
to kill Echo and tear her to pieces that were subsequently scattered far
and wide. Gaia, the Earth goddess, received the pieces in her bosom and
thus Echo, scattered now all over the earth, retained her voice and talents
answering or imitating every sound or voice.
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Efreisone
The female personification of a Greek ritual object: a branch of olive
wood, twined with wool and hung with fruits, which was carried in festivals
by children with two living parents
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Eileithyia
According to Homer, Eileithyia was the goddess of birth-pain, but he may
have been thinking about the Eileithyiai, the daughters of Hera. Hesiod
presented Eileithyia as the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hera and Artemis
are mentioned in connection to this goddess and her title. Pausanias describes
two versions of the deity's origin. (1) In the first story Eleithyia came
from the Hyperboreans (from the legendary north) to Delos to help Leto,
when she was giving birth to Artemis and Apollo. (2) Eileithyia was born
in a Cretan cave at Amnisos.
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Eirene
("Peace") One of the Greek Horae.
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Elara
She is the daughter of King Orchomenus, and one of Zeus' many lovers.
He placed her under the earth, to hid her from Hera, where she gave birth
to the giant Tityas (who is therefore called a son of the earth).
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Elate
An avatar of Artemis as goddess of the fir tree. |
Electra
('amber') (Elektra) A sea Divinity, the provider of amber. The daughter
of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, or of Oceanus and Tethys, she is one of
the Pleiades. By her husband Thaumas (son of the Sea, Pontus and of Gaia)
she is the mother of the goddess Iris, and of the Harpies. By Zeus she
had a son, Dardanus, who would become the founder of the Trojan race.
Freud named the Elektra Complex (feminine equivalent of the Oedipus Complex)
after her, because of her attachment to her father and hostility towards
her mother.
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Enarete
Wife of Aeolus, ancestor of the Aeolians, and mother of Sisyphus.
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Enodia
The guardian of crossroads and gates. |
Enyo
("horror") A Greek goddess of war and waster of cities, sometimes
depicted as the daughter of Ares, but also as his mother or his sister.
She appears covered in blood, and striking attitudes of violence. Enyo
is one of the Graeae, the three 'old women'. In Rome she was identified
with Bellona.
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Eos
Birth Goddess, Rosy-fingered Dawn. Greek. Daughter of Hyperion and Theia,
Goddess of the dawn, and of beginnings in general. The Greek personification
of the dawn, the daughter of the Hyperion and Theia and the sister of
Helios (sun) and Selene (moon). By Astraeus she was the mother of the
four winds: Boreas, Eurus, Zephyrus and Notus; and also of Heosphorus
and the Stars. She was depicted as a goddess whose rosy fingers opened
the gates of heaven to the chariot of the Sun. Her legend consists almost
entirely of her intrigues. She first slept with Ares; this earned her
the wrath of Aphrodite who punished her by changing her into a nymphomaniac.
Her lovers were Orion, Cephalus and Tithonus. To Cephalus or Tithonis
she bore Phaeton, who was carried of by Aphrodite to be guardian of her
temple; and to Atlas she bore Hesperus, the morning and evening star Venus.
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Erato
("lovely") One of the nine Muses. The Muses are daughters of
Zeus by Mnemosyne, and between them inspire creative workings. The Muse
of lyric poetry, particularly love and erotic poetry, and mimicry. She
is usually depicted with a lyre.
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Erigone
The goddess of justice. She is also known as Astraea, the Starry One.
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Eris
("strife")A Child of Nyx and companion of Ares, she has some
resemblence to the Celtic Morrigan in her exaltation of discord and unrational
frenzy. Eris is sinister and mean, and her greatest joy is to make trouble.
She has a golden apple that is so bright and shiny everybody wants to
have it. When she throws it among friends, their friendship come to a
rapid end. When she throws it among enemies, war breaks out, for the golden
apple of Eris is the Apple of Discord. She did this once during the wedding
of Peleus and Thetis, and this act brought about the Trojan War.
Ersa
Ersa was the Greek goddess of the dew. She was the daughter of Zeus and
Eos, sister of Pandia.
Erytheia
One of the Hesperides.
Eumenides
A euphemistic Greek term for the Erinyes (Furies). The name means something
like "the kind ones, the well-minded, or well-disposed ones, or protectors
of the suppliant". This title was applied to the Furies, who were
female spirits who tormented the guilty. They were born from the blood
of Uranus. Uranus was killed by his own son Cronus, who was helping his
mother, Gaia. Gaia made a sickle from her body so Cronus could arm himself.
When Uranus' blood fell upon the earth, the Furies were made. It was also
used for the title of the play called Oresteia. It was the third play
in the series.
Eunomia
("Good order") Eunomia was the goddess of order and legislation
in Greek mythology. She was one of the three Horae. She was the daughter
of Zeus and Themis. Her sisters were Eirene and Dice. The Horae were the
goddesses of the seasons.
Euphrosyne
("cheerful", "joyous") One of the three Graces. See
also Aglaia and Thalia.
Europa
Full Moon, the Great Goddess as Mother of all Europe. Garlanded white
bulls were sacrificed to this Lunar Cow Goddess in Crete and Mycenae from
a very early date. Europa was the daughter of Agenor, and was beloved
by Zeus. Zeus took the form of a beautiful white bull and encountered
Europa at the seashore. By appearing to be very tame, he coaxed her to
climb onto his back and then swam off with her across the sea to Crete.
In Crete, Europa had three sons by Zeus -- Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthys.
Zeus also gave her three gifts: the bronze man, Talos, to act as her guardian;
a dog, Laelaps, which never failed of its quarry; and a javelin which
never missed its mark. Europa afterwards married Asterius, the king of
Crete. Europa is also the name of a daughter of Tityus, and mother of
Euphemus.
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Euryale
One of the three Gorgons. Literally, "far-roaming".
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Eurydice
Eurydice and Orpheus were young and in love. So deep was their love that
they were practically inseparable. So dependent was their love that each
felt they could not live without the other. These young lovers were very
happy and spent their time frolicking through the meadows. One day Eurdice
was running gaily through a meadow with Orpheus when she was bitten by
a serpent. The poison of the sting killed her and she descended to Hades
immediately. Orpheus was son of the great Olympian god Apollo. In many
ways Apollo was the god of music and Orpheus was blessed with musical
talents. Orpheus was so sad about the loss of his love that he composed
music to express the terrible emptiness that pervaded his every breath
and movement. He was so desperate and found so little else meaningful,
that he decided address Hades. As the overseer of the underworld, Hades
heart was hard as steel. Many approached Hades to beg for loved ones back
and as many times were refused. But Orpheus' music was so sweet and so
moving that it softened the steel-hearted heart of Hades himself. Hades
gave permission to Orpheus to bring Eurydice back to the surface of the
earth to enjoy the light of day. There was only one condition--Orpheus
was not to look back as he ascended. He was to trust that Eurydice was
immediately behind him. It was a long way back up and just as Orpheus
had almost finished that last part of the trek, he looked behind him to
make sure Eurydice was still with him. At that very moment, she was snatched
back because he did not trust that she was there. When you hear music
that mourns lost love, it is Orpheus' spirit who guides the hand of the
musicians who play it.
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Eurynome
The Pelasgian Creatress Who danced alone on the primordial ocean of Chaos
until She brought the elements to order. An Oceanid, one of the many daughters
of Oceanus. She is the mother of the Charites.
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Euterpe
("delight") One of the nine Muses. Her realm was that of Lyric
Poetry. The Muses are daughters of Zeus by Mnemosyne, and between them
inspire creative workings. Her name means "rejoicing well" or
"delight". Euterpe is the Muse of music and lyric poetry. She
is also the Muse of joy and pleasure and of flute playing and was thought
to have invented the double flute, which is her attribute.
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