Astymedusa Explained

In Greek mythology, Astymedusa (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀστυμέδουσα, Astymédousa) or simply Medusa, was a Mycenaean princess as daughter of King Sthenelus and Nicippe, daughter of Pelops.

She was occasionally named as a later wife of Oedipus. After parting with Jocasta or after the death of Euryganeia, who was his second wife,^[1] Oedipus married Astymedousa.^[2] Astymedusa accused Polynices and Eteocles of attempting to rape her, thus driving Oedipus into a frenzy.^[3] This is held as an alternate cause for the curse which led to the fraternal discord at the heart of the myth of the wars at Thebes.^[4]

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. . Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
• Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.

Bibliography

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Notes and References

1. [Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]
2. 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).
3. [Eustathius of Thessalonica|Eustathius]
4. .