Euryganeia

In Greek mythology, Euryganeia (Ancient Greek: Εὐρυγάνεια, Eurygáneia) was a Theban queen.

Family

Euryganeia was either a daughter of Hyperphas,[1][2] and thus, sister to Euryanassa.[3] In some sources, she was described as Jocasta's sister, which would make her Oedipus' aunt.[4] Euryganeia was occasionally named as Oedipus' second wife and the mother of his children, Polynices, Eteocles, Ismene and Antigone.[5] According to Pausanias, the statement at Odyssey 11.274—that the gods soon made the incestuous marriage between Oedipus and his mother Jocasta known—is incompatible with her bearing four children to him.[6] The geographer cites the Oedipodeia as evidence for the fact that Euryganeia was actually the mother of Oedipus' brood.[7] Pherecydes, on the other hand, attributed two sons (named Phrastor and Laonytus) to the marriage of Jocasta and Oedipus, but agreed that the more famous foursome were the children of Euryganeia.[8]

Mythology

There was a painting of Euryganeia at Plataea in which she was depicted as mournful because of the strife between her children.[9] Following Euryganeia's death, Oedipus married Astymedusa, who plotted against her stepsons.[10][11]

See also

Notes
  1. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.5.8
  2. Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.11
  3. Scholia on Homer, Odyssey 11.326 = Hesiod, fr. 62 (Loeb edition, 1914)
  4. Anonymous authors cited by the scholia to Euripides, Phoenissae 53
  5. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.5.8; cf. Watson (1994, p. 237).
  6. Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.10
  7. Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.11; this is Oedipodeia fr. 2 in West (2003).
  8. Pherecydes, FGrHist 3 F 48, quoted by the scholia to Euripides, Phoenissae 53.
  9. Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.11
  10. The Scholia to Iliad 4.376 places the union following Oedipus' discovery that Jocasta was his mother; the marriage took place following Euryganeia's death according to the scholia to Euripides, Phoenissae 53 (citing Pherecydes, FGrHist 3 F 48).
  11. Eustathius on Homer, Iliad 4.376–81 (vol. i, p. 767) .

References
  • Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
  • Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
  • Pseudo-Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.

Bibliography
  • Watson, P.A. (1994), Ancient Stepmothers: Myth, Misogyny and Reality, Leiden, ISBN 9004101764{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).
  • West, M.L. (2003), Greek Epic Fragments, Loeb Classical Library, vol. no. 497, Cambridge, MA, ISBN 0-674-99605-4{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).


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