Boeotian Naiad Nymph of Greek Mythology (original) (raw)

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EUPHEME

Translation

Well-Spoken (eu, phêmê)

EUPHEME was a nymph of Mount Helikon (Helicon) in Boiotia (central Greece) who nursed the young goddess Mousai (Muses). Eupheme was loved by the god Pan and bore him a son named Krotos (Crotus) who was a favourite of the nine goddesses.

Eupheme the "Well-Spoken" was probably the Naiad-nymph of the spring of Hippokrene (Hippocrene) on Mount Helikon whose waters were believed to inspire poets. She was perhaps identified with Aganippe.

PARENTS

Perhaps a daughter of the River TERMESSOS

OFFSPRING

KROTOS (by Pan) (Sositheus Frag, Eratosthenes, Hyginus Fabulae 224, Hyginus Astronomica 2.27)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

EUPHE′ME (Euphêmê), the nurse of the Muses, of whom there was a statue in the grove of the Muses near Helicon. (Paus. ix. 29. § 3.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 29. 5 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[The sanctuary of the Mousai (Muses) on Mount Helikon (Helicon) in Boiotia :] As you go along the straight road to the grove is a portrait of Eupheme carved in relief on a stone. She was, they say, the nurse of the Mousai (Muses)."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 224 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Mortals who were made immortal . . . Crotos, son of Pan and Eupheme."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 27 :
"Crotus, son of Eupheme, nurse of the Musae (Muses). As Sositheus [C3rd B.C.], writer of tragedies, says, he had his home on Mount Helicon and took his pleasure in the company of the Musae."

SOURCES

GREEK

ROMAN

OTHER SOURCES

Other references not currently quoted here: Eratosthenes, Manilus Astronomica 2.433.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.