Podarge
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In Greek mythology, Podarge (Ancient Greek: Ποδάργη, English translation: "swift-foot") is a harpy, a personification of a swift wind and mate of Zephyrus, the West Wind. She is the mother of Balius and Xanthus — two divine horses renowned for their swiftness and who were gifted to Achilles, running as fast as the wind. In the Illiad, she's described by Homer as having taken horse form, and 'grazing in a meadow by the stream of Ocean'.[1][2][3][4]
Some classical authors also regard her as Zephyrus' wife. However as the rainbow goddess Iris is his other wife and sister of Podarge, there's confusion between the two.
Stesichorus says Phlogeus and Harpagos are also divine horses offspring of Podarge.[3]
Her other names are Podarkes, Podarke-Aellopos and Podarces.[3]
Sources
[edit]- Homer. Iliad xvi, 148.
- Hyginus. Fabulae Preface, Fabulae 14.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus. Fall of Troy 3 743.
- Stesichorus. Funeral Games of Pelias Fragment 178.
- Nonnus. Dionysiaca 37 155.
References
[edit]- ^ Mackie, C. J. (2008). Rivers of Fire. Washington: New Academia Publishing/ The Spring. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-9800814-2-8.
- ^ March, Jennifer R. (2014). Dictionary of classical mythology. Oxford Philadelphia: Oxbow Books. ISBN 978-1-78297-635-6.
- ^ a b c "Bird-Women Monsters & Storm Spirits of Greek Mythology". THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Probert, Philomen (2016-05-07). "Zeus on the stud farm? Against a Homeric instance of attractio relativi". Mnemosyne. 69 (3): 377. doi:10.1163/1568525X-12341879. ISSN 0026-7074. Retrieved 2024-12-12.