Ephyra (mythology)
Deity name used in Greek mythology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ephyra /ˈɛfərə/ (Ancient Greek: Ἐφύρα, romanized: Ephúra) or Ephyre /ˈɛfəriː/ (Ancient Greek: Ἐφύρη, romanized: Ephúrē) was another name for ancient Corinth. It also refers to two figures in Greek mythology:
- Ephyra, one of the 3,000 Oceanids, water-nymph daughters of the Titans Oceanus[1] and his sister-wife Tethys.[2] Otherwise, she was called the daughter[3] or wife[4][5] of the Titan Epimetheus. Ephyra was the first to dwell in the land of Ephyrae, which was later called Corinth.[6] In some accounts, her father was called Myrmex.[citation needed] Ephyra was sometimes attributed to be the mother of Aeetes by Helios.[7]
- Ephyre, one of the 50 Nereids, sea-nymph daughters of the "Old Man of the Sea" Nereus and the Oceanid Doris.[8][2] She was in the train of Cyrene along with her sister Opis, Deiopea and Arethusa.[9] This Ephyra may be the same to the above Oceanid.[10]
Cichyrus in Epirus was also known as Ephyra.
Popular culture
- In the game, Hades II (the sequel to Hades), "Ephyra" is the name of a City-state (a Polis) sacred to Hades & Persephone (parents of the protagonist, Melinoë), having been founded near a known entrance to the underworld (a Ploutonion similar to the Necromanteion of Acheron)--now overrun by the forces of Cronus, the titan of time (making it a necropolis). Possibly referring to modern-day Cranon, known as "Ephyra" back then, or the above-mentioned Corinth. Here, the 'helpful-hand' character for Melinoë while on her quest is her fellow sorceress (and a first-cousin, once-removed, due to the game-franchise Retconning Demeter and Helios as siblings) and an accomplished pharmakís, Lady Medea (a grand-daughter of Helios'), stationed up in Ephyra prior by Lady Hecate to be her eyes and ears there.
- In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the founder and king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth).
