Harpies: Greek Mythology

Who Were the Harpies?

The harpies consisted of 3 fraternal sisters; Ocypete, Alleo, and Celaero. Originally they were beautiful maidens, but only far later were they described as "being hideous old women." The time their descriptions were changed was when the people wanted myths about monsters, and brave heroes slaying them. The harpies are not killed in any myths, thankfully.

Ocypete was the most noted of the sisters, she was the

one described as being the haggard old woman. Her sisters are not as famous, and little is noted about Alleo and Celaero.

Found at: Encyclopediamythica.com

Geneology:

Appearance and Powers

The triplets' main powers were flight, creating windstorms, and having a very sly and tricky nature. In case of appearance, it depends on which myth and what time period you look to. In the older stories, they were "beautiful maidens with flowing hair and swan's wings", and had a mischievous appearance. Later, however, was when writers, for whatever reason, decided to make them as being "old women, with wrinkled faces and ugly complexions." They were also said to have had the power to take the wicked into their taloned feet and send them to the pits of Hades. This was also given to them in the newer myths that included them. In the earlier references, they were said to be the blame of violent and powerful windstorms on the high-seas. Aello means storm, Ocypete means swift-flier and Celaeno means black cloud.

Father was Thaumas; god of the sea, and their mother was Electra. Electra was also the mother of Iris, and a mortal woman. She was the daughter of King Agamemnon.

Found at: Encyclopediamythica.com

Myths that Featured the Harpies:

The harpies were mostly featured in Greco-Roman classical mythology. There are a few in the later forms of Greek Mythology. In one such myth, King Phineus was sent away on a island by Zeus, and the harpies continuously tormented him, stealing food from him. A few other small tales from the same time period mentioned the harpies of stealing things from homes and causing quite a disruption of normal routine in the daily lives of the Greek people.

Found at: EncyclopediaMythica.com

Image found at: theio.com

Thaumas was the harpies' father. He was one of the many gods of the sea. Not much is stated about him in the Greek mythology. Some people speculate he is another name for Nereus, the old man of the sea.

Electra was the harpies' mother,

and unlike the stories and myths,

did not seem to hate her 3 daughters

or their appearance.

found at: theio.com

Works Cited:

Encyclopedia Mythica. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.pantheon.org/>.

"Harpy." Misterimmortal.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://misterimmortal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Harpy-wallpaper.png>.

"Harpy Women." Outsidethebeltway. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/harpies.jpg>.

Kidzworld.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.kidzworld.com/article/2118-greek-mythology-harpies>.

Leighton, Frederic. "Electra." Wikipedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1869_Frederic_Leighton_-_Electra_at_the_Tomb_of_Agamemnon.jpg>.

- - -. "Electra." Wikipedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1869_Frederic_Leighton_-_Electra_at_the_Tomb_of_Agamemnon.jpg>.

"Nereus." Theoi.com. Aaron J. Atsma, 2011. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/P11.1.html>.

Theoi.com. Aaron J. Atsma, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. <http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Thaumas.html>.

Edith Hamilton Mythology; Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes 4.Feb.2014 (C) 1940

Greek Mythology: Harpies

Lauren Anderson

Found At: Misterimmortals.com