GORGYRA
Greek Name
Γοργυρα
Ορφνη
Transliteration
Gorgyra
Orphnê
Latin Spelling
Gorgyra
Orphne
Translation
Drain (gorgyra)
Darkness (orphnê)
GORGYRA or ORPHNE was a daimon (spirit) or nymphe of the underworld who was the mother of Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), orchardist of Haides, by the river-god Akheron (Acheron).
Her names mean "underground drain" from the Greek word gorgyra and "darkness" and "night" from orphnê. As Gorgyra she was perhaps identified with the underworld river-goddess Styx and as Orphne with Nyx, the netherworld-dwelling goddess of the night.
PARENTS
Nowhere stated
OFFSPRING
ASKALAPHOS (by Akheron) (Apollodorus 1.33, Ovid Metamorphoses 5.539)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 33 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), the son of Akheron (Acheron) and Gorgyra."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 5. 539 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Orphne's son, Ascalaphus, whom she, not the least famous of the Nymphae Avernales (Underworld Nymphs), bore once to Acheron in her dusky bower."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
ROMAN
- Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.