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Greek Mythology >> Greek Gods >> Underworld Gods >> Gorgyra

GORGYRA

Greek Name

Γοργυρα

Ορφνη

Transliteration

Gorgyra

Orphnê

Latin Spelling

Gorgyra

Orphne

Translation

Drain (gorgyra)

Darkness (orphnê)

GORGYRA or ORPHNE was a daimon (spirit) or nymphe of the underworld who was the mother of Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), orchardist of Haides, by the river-god Akheron (Acheron).

Her names mean "underground drain" from the Greek word gorgyra and "darkness" and "night" from orphnê. As Gorgyra she was perhaps identified with the underworld river-goddess Styx and as Orphne with Nyx, the netherworld-dwelling goddess of the night.


PARENTS

Nowhere stated

OFFSPRING

ASKALAPHOS (by Akheron) (Apollodorus 1.33, Ovid Metamorphoses 5.539)


CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 33 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), the son of Akheron (Acheron) and Gorgyra."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 5. 539 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Orphne's son, Ascalaphus, whom she, not the least famous of the Nymphae Avernales (Underworld Nymphs), bore once to Acheron in her dusky bower."


SOURCES

GREEK

ROMAN

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.