Euryganeia Explained

In Greek mythology, Euryganeia (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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

• List of Greek mythological figures

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.
• 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. . Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.

Bibliography

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Notes and References

1. [Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Pseudo-Apollodorus]
2. [Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]
3. [Scholia]
4. Anonymous authors cited by the scholia to Euripides, Phoenissae 53
5. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3.5.8; cf. .
6. Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.10
7. Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.11; this is Oedipodeia fr. 2 in .
8. [Pherecydes of Syros|Pherecydes]
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 of Thessalonica|Eustathius]