ARGIOPE

ARGIOPE was a Naiad-nymph of Mount Parnassos in Phokis (central Greece) and later Odrysia in Thrake (north of Greece). She was the mother of the bard Thamyris by Philammon.

Argiope's name means "Silver-Faced" from the Greek words argyros and ops which suggests she was the nymph of a mountain spring or stream.

PARENTS

Perhaps a daughter of the River KEPHISOS

OFFSPRING

THAMYRIS (by Philammon) (Apollodorus 1.16, Pausanias 4.33.3)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

ARGI′OPE (Argiopê), a nymph by whom Philammon begot the celebrated bard, Thamyris. She lived at first on mount Parnassus, but when Philammon refused to take her into his house as his wife, she left Parnassus and went to the country of the Odrysians in Thrace. (Apollod. i. 3. § 3 ; Paus. iv. 33. § 4.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 16 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Thamyris, son of Philammon and the Nymphe Argiope."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 33. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"He [Thamyris] was the son of Philammon and the Nymphe Argiope, who once dwelt on Parnassos (Parnassus), but settled among the Odrysai [Odrysians of Thrace] when pregnant, for Philammon refused to take her into his house."

SOURCES

GREEK

• Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.