Erinyes
A group of avenging goddesses whose birth Hesiod connects with the blood of wounded Uranus falling on Gaia.
Overview
The Erinyes are goddesses of vengeance, pursued guilt and violated order. Hesiod's Theogony places their birth among the consequences of Cronus wounding Uranus and his blood falling upon Gaia, tying them from the start to family violence. Homer’s Iliad also invokes the Erinyes beneath the earth as punishers of false oaths. This account therefore keeps to the early poetic outline directly supported here, rather than importing every later tragic image of their pursuit of kin-murder into one unqualified account of Greek myth.
Key facts
Born from Uranus’ blood
In the overthrow of Uranus, the Theogony says the Erinyes are born from blood falling on the earth.
Punishers of false oaths
An oath in Iliad 19 invokes the Erinyes beneath the earth and asks them to punish anyone who swears falsely.
Relationships
- Uranusblood gives rise to
In Hesiod's route, blood from wounded Uranus falling on Gaia gives rise to the Erinyes.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.