KARME
Greek Name
Καρμη
Transliteration
Karmê
Latin Spelling
Carme
Translation
Crop, Shear
KARME (Carme) was a Kretan (Cretan) demi-goddess of the harvest. She was a daughter of Euboulos (Eubulus), demi-god of ploughing, and the mother of the huntress Britomartis by Zeus. Karme's male counterpart was her grandfather Karmanor (Carmanor), a Kretan consort of the goddess Demeter.
Karme's name was derived from the word karma "cropped" and keirô "to crop or shear."
PARENTS
[1] EUBOULOS (Pausanias 2.30.3, Diodorus Siculus 5.76.3)
[2] PHOINIX & KASSIOPEA (Antoninus Liberalis 40)
OFFSPRING
[1] BRITOMARTIS (by Zeus) (Pausanias 2.30.3, Diodorus Siculus 5.76.3, Antoninus Liberalis 40)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
CARME (Karmê), a daughter of Eubulus, who became by Zeus the mother of Britomartis. (Paus. ii. 30. § 2.) Antoninus Liberalis (40) describes her as a grand-daughter of Agenor, and daughter of Phoenix.
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 76. 3 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Britomartis, who is also called Diktynna (Dictynna), the myths relate, was born at Kaino (Caeno) in Krete (Crete) of Zeus and Karme (Carme), the daughter of Euboulos (Eubulus) who was the son of Demeter; she invented the nets (diktya) which are used in hunting."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 30. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"The Kretans (Cretans) say, the story of Aphaia [Britomartis] is Kretan, that Karmanor (Carmanor), who purified Apollon after he killed Pytho, was the father of Euboulos (Eubulus), and that the daughter of Zeus and of Karme (Carme), the daughter of Euboulos, was Britomartis."
Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 40 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Kassiepeia (Cassiepea), daughter of Arabios, and Phoinix (Phoenix), son of Agenor, had a daughter Karme (Carme) [i.e. a sister of Europa of Krete]. Zeus made love to her and fathered Britomartis who avoided the company of mankind and yearned to be a virgin for always. She arrived in Argos from Phoinikia (Phoenicia)."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
- Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.