EPHYRA
Greek Name
Εφυρα
Transliteration
Ephyra
Latin Spelling
Ephyra
Translation
Of Ephyra (town), Fiery (pyrha)
EPHYRA was the eponymous Okeanid-nymph of the town of Ephyra--better known as Korinthos (Corinth)--on the Isthmos in southern Greece. She was the wife or daughter of the Titan Epimetheus. She probably presided over her namesake town's water supply.
Ephyra was surely identified with Pyrrha--the daughter of Epimetheus and wife of Deukalion.
PARENTS
[1] OKEANOS & TETHYS (Simonides Frag 596; Pausanias 2.1.1, Hyginus Fabulae 275)
[2] EPIMETHEOS (Simonides Frag 596)
[3] MYRMEX (Other references)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
E′PHYRA (Ephura), a daughter of Oceanus, from whom Ephyraea, the ancient name of Corinth was derived. (Paus. ii. 1. § 1; Virg. Georg. iv. 343.)
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Simonides, Fragment 596 (from Scholiast on Apollonius of Rhodes) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric III) (C6th to 5th B.C.) :
"Ephyra is Korinthos (Corinth), named after Ephyra, daughter of Epimetheos (Epimetheus); but Simonides makes her daughter of Okeanos (Oceanus) and Tethys, and wife of Epimetheos."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 1. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Eumelos (Eumelus) . . . says in his Korinthian History . . . that Ephyra, the daughter of Okeanos (Oceanus), dwelt first in this land [Korinthos (Corinth)]."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 275 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"The Nympha Ephyre, daughter of Oceanus, [founded] Ephyre, which later they called Corinth."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Greek Lyric III Simonides, Fragments - Greek Lyric C6th - 5th B.C.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
ROMAN
- Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
OTHER SOURCES
Other references not currently quoted here: Virgil Georgics 4.343.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.