Megaera
Megaera | |
---|---|
Jealousy and envy | |
Genealogy | |
Parents | Uranus or Nyx |
Siblings | Alecto and Tisiphone |
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Megaera (/məˈdʒɪərə/; Ancient Greek: Μέγαιρα, English translation: "the jealous one"[1]) is one of the Erinyes, Eumenides or "Furies" in Greek mythology. Lamprière's Classical Dictionary states "According to the most received opinions, they were three in number, Tisiphone, "Megaera ... daughter of Nox and Acheron",[2] and Alecto".[3]
Like her sisters Alecto and Tisiphone, as well as the Melian Nymphs, she was born of the blood of Uranus when Cronus castrated him.[4]
In modern French (mégère), Portuguese (megera), Modern Greek (μέγαιρα), Italian (megera), Russian (мегера) and Czech (megera), this name denotes a jealous or spiteful woman. She is not to be confused with Megara, the wife of Heracles.
Modern reception
Minor planet 464 Megaira is named in her honour.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Related to μεγαίρω "to grudge, envy" from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh2- "great" (see R. S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009, p. 917).
- ^ Lamprière's Classical Dictionary of Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors, 1949, p. 366
- ^ Lamprière's Classical Dictionary of Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors, 1949, p. 234
- ^ Graves, Robert (1960). The Greek Myths. London: Penguin Books. pp. 37. ISBN 9780140171990.
- ^ "(464) Megaira". (464) Megaira In: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer. 2003. p. 52. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_465. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.