Electra (Oceanid)

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In Greek mythology, Electra (/ɪˈlɛktrə/; Ancient Greek: Ἠλέκτρα, romanizedĒléktra, lit.'amber') was one of the 3,000 Oceanids, water-nymph daughters of the Titans Oceanus and his sister-spouse Tethys.[1][2][3]

Family[edit]

According to Hesiod, she was the wife of Thaumas, and by him, the mother of Iris, the goddess of rainbows and a messenger for the gods, and the Harpies.[4]

The names of Electra's Harpy daughters vary. Hesiod and Apollodorus named them Aello and Ocypete. Virgil named Celaeno as one of the Harpies.[5] However, while Hyginus, Fabulae Preface had the Harpies, Celaeno, Ocypete, and Podarce, as daughters of Thaumas and Electra, at Fabuale 14.18, the Harpies were said to be named Aellopous, Celaeno, and Ocypete, and were the daughters of Thaumas and Ozomene.[6] Ozomene may have been a secondary name for Electra, meaning "many-branches."

The late 4th-early 5th century poet Nonnus gives Electra and Thaumas two children: Iris, and the river god Hydaspes.[7]

Mythology[edit]

Along with her sisters, Electra was one of the companions of Persephone when the daughter of Demeter was abducted by Hades.[8]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 337–370; Homeric Hymn, 2.5, 2.418–423; Apollodorus,1.2.2.
  2. ^ Kerényi, Carl (1951). The Gods of the Greeks. London: Thames and Hudson. p. 41.
  3. ^ Bane, Theresa (2013). Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 122. ISBN 9780786471119.
  4. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 265–269, 780–381; also Apollodorus, 1.2.6; Hyginus, Fabulae Preface.
  5. ^ Virgil, Aeneid 3 211–212; Servius on Virgil, Aeneid 3.212
  6. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 14.18
  7. ^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca 26.358–362
  8. ^ Homeric Hymn to Demeter 418; Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 4.30.4

References[edit]