EUPHEME

EUPHEME was a nymph of Mount Helikon (Helicon) in Boiotia (central Greece) who nursed the young goddess Mousai (Muses). Eupheme was loved by the god Pan and bore him a son named Krotos (Crotus) who was a favourite of the nine goddesses.

Eupheme the "Well-Spoken" was probably the Naiad-nymph of the spring of Hippokrene (Hippocrene) on Mount Helikon whose waters were believed to inspire poets. She was perhaps identified with Aganippe.

PARENTS

Perhaps a daughter of the River TERMESSOS

OFFSPRING

KROTOS (by Pan) (Sositheus Frag, Eratosthenes, Hyginus Fabulae 224, Hyginus Astronomica 2.27)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

EUPHE′ME (Euphêmê), the nurse of the Muses, of whom there was a statue in the grove of the Muses near Helicon. (Paus. ix. 29. § 3.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 29. 5 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[The sanctuary of the Mousai (Muses) on Mount Helikon (Helicon) in Boiotia :] As you go along the straight road to the grove is a portrait of Eupheme carved in relief on a stone. She was, they say, the nurse of the Mousai (Muses)."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 224 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Mortals who were made immortal . . . Crotos, son of Pan and Eupheme."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 27 :
"Crotus, son of Eupheme, nurse of the Musae (Muses). As Sositheus [C3rd B.C.], writer of tragedies, says, he had his home on Mount Helicon and took his pleasure in the company of the Musae."

SOURCES

GREEK

• Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.

ROMAN

• Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Hyginus, Astronomica - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.

OTHER SOURCES

Other references not currently quoted here: Eratosthenes, Manilus Astronomica 2.433.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.