EKHIDNA
Greek Name
Εχιδνα
Transliteration
Ekhidna
Latin Spelling
Echidna
Translation
Poisonous Viper (ekhidna)

EKHIDNA (Echidna) was a monstrous she-dragon (drakaina) with the head and breast of a woman and the tail of a coiling serpent. She probably represented the corruptions of the earth--rot, slime, fetid waters, illness and disease.
Ekhidna was sometimes equated with Python "the Rotting One", a dragon born of the fetid slime left behind by the great Deluge. Others name her the Tartarean lamprey, and place in her to the dark, swampy pit of Tartaros beneath the earth. Hesiod, makes her a daughter of monstrous sea-gods, and presumably associates her with rotting sea-scum and fetid salt-marshes.
Ekhidna was the consort of Typhoeus--a monstrous, multi-headed storm-giant who challenged Zeus to the throne of heaven. Together they spawned a host of terrible monsters to plague the earth including the Khimaira (Chimera), Kerberos (Cerberus), the Hydra, Sphinx and the Drakon Hesperios (Hesperian Dragon).
Four other closely related she-dragons were the Argive Ekhidna and Poine (Poena), the Tartarean Kampe (Campe), and the Phokian Sybaris.
In the image right Ekhidna is equated with Python and Apollon, seated on the omphalos stone, slays her with his arrows--the motif perhaps represents the healing god (Paian) destroying the daemon bringer of plague.
FAMILY OF ECHIDNA
PARENTS
[1.1] PHORKYS & KETO (Hesiod Theogony 2.95)
[1.2] TARTAROS & GAIA (Apollodorus 2.4)
OFFSPRING
[1.1] ORTHOS, KERBEROS, HYDRA, KHIMAIRA (by Typhoeus) (Hesiod Theogony 306)
[1.2] ORTHOS, KHIMAIRA, DRAKON HESPERIOS, KAUKASIAN EAGLE, SPHINX,
KROMMYON SOW (by Typhon) (Apollodorus
2.106, 2.32, 2.113, 2.120, 3.52, E1.1)
[1.3] GORGO, KERBEROS, DRAKON HESPERIOS, HYDRA, DRAKON KHOLKIKOS, SKYLLA, SPHINX, KHIMAIRA (by Typhon) (Hyginus Pref & Fabulae 151 &
Astr. 2.15)
[1.4] KHIMAIRA (by Typhon) (Homeric Hymn 3.356)
[1.5] SPHINX (by Typhon) (Lasus Frag 706a)
[1.6] KERBEROS (Bacchylides Frag 5)
[1.7] ORTHOS, KERBEROS (by Typhon) (Quintus Smyrnaeus 6.249,
6.260)
[1.8] KERBEROS, HYDRA (Ovid Metamorphoses 7.412 & 9.69)
[2.1] EKHIDNADES (Nonnus Dionysiaca
18.274)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
ECHIDNA (Echidna), a daughter of Tartarus and Ge (Apollod. ii. 1. § 2), or of Chrysaor and Callirrhoë (Hesiod. Theog. 295), and according to others again, of Peiras and Styx. (Paus. viii. 18. § 1.) Echidna was a monster, half maiden and half serpent, with black eyes, fearful and bloodthirsty. She was the destruction of man, and became by Typhon the mother of the Chimaera, of the many-headed dog Orthus, of the hundred-headed dragon who guarded the apples of the Hesperides, of the Colchian dragon, of the Sphinx, Cerberus, Scylla, Gorgon, the Lernaean Hydra, of the eagle which consumed the liver of Prometheus, and of the Nemean lion. (Hes. Theog. 307, &c.; Apollod. ii. 3. § 1, 5. §§ 10, 11, iii. 5. § 8; Hygin. Fab. Praef. p. 3, and Fab. 151.) She was killed in her sleep by Argus Panoptes. (Apollod. ii. 1. § 2.) According to Hesiod she lived with Typhon in a cave in the country of the Arimi, whereas the Greeks on the Euxine conceived her to have lived in Scythia.
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
ALTERNATE NAMES & EPITHETS
Greek Name
Μυραινα Ταρτησια
Δρακαινα Δελφυνη
Transliteration
Myraina Tartêsia
Drakaina Delphynê
Latin Spelling
Myraena Tartesia
Dracaena Delphyne
Translation
Eel of Tartarus (myraina)
Serpent Womb (drakôn, delphys)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
PARENTAGE & HOME OF ECHIDNA
Hesiod, Theogony 295 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.)
:
"But she [Keto (Ceto)] bore [to Phorkys (Phorcys)] another unmanageable monster like nothing human nor like
the immortal gods either, in a hollow cave. This was the divine and haughty Ekhidna (Echidna), and half of her
is a Nymphe with a fair face and eyes glancing, but the other half is a monstrous serpent (ophis),
terrible, enormous and squirming and voracious, there in earth's secret places. For there she has her cave on
the underside of a hollow rock, far from the immortal gods, and far from all mortals. There the gods ordained
her a fabulous home to live in which she keeps underground among the Arimoi, grisly Ekhidna, a Nymphe who never
dies, and all her days she is ageless."
Homer, Iliad 2. 780 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"Zeus who delights in thunder were angry, as when he batters the earth about Typhoeus, in the land of the
Arimoi [Arimaspians], where they say Typhoeus lies prostrate." [N.B. This is the same underground home
given to Ekhidna (Echidna) by Hesiod, above.]
N.B. Both Homer and Hesiod mention that Typhoeus and Ekhidna were imprisoned beneath the stormy land of the Arimoi--a semi-mythical Skythian (Scythian) tribe also called Arimaspoi (Arimaspians) or Kimmaroi (Cimmerians)--who dwelt at the ends of the earth in eternal gloom. In other words, the pair resided in Tartaros.
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 4 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.)
:
"She [Ekhidna (Echidna)] was a daughter of Tartaros and Ge (Gaea)."
ECHIDNA MOTHER OF MONSTERS
Hesiod, Theogony 306 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.)
:
"Men say that Typhaon [Typhoeus] the terrible, outrageous and lawless, was joined in love to her [Ekhidna
(Echidna)], the maid with glancing eyes. So she conceived and brought forth fierce offspring; first she bare
Orthos (Orthus) the hound of Geryones (Geryon), and then again she bare a second, a monster not to be overcome
and that may not be described, Kerberos (Cerberus) who eats raw flesh, the brazen-voiced hound of Haides,
fifty-headed, relentless and strong. And again she bore a third, the evil-minded Hydra of Lerna, whom the
goddess, white-armed Hera nourished, being angry beyond measure with the mighty Herakles . . . She was the
mother of Khimaira (Chimera) who breathed raging fire, a creature fearful, great, swift-footed and strong, who
had three heads, one of a grim-eyed lion; in her hinderpart, a dragon; and in her middle, a goat, breathing
forth a fearful blast of blazing fire. Her did Pegasos (Pegasus) and noble Bellerophontes slay."
Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo 356 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.)
:
"Straightway large-eyed queenly Hera took him [her child the monster Typhaon (Typhoeus)] and bringing one
evil thing to another such, gave him to the Drakaina (Dracaena) [Ekhidna-Python]; and she received him. And this
Typhaon used to work great mischief among the famous tribes of men."
Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo 362 ff :
"Phoibos (Phoebus) Apollon boasted over her [Python-Ekhidna] ‘. . . Against cruel death neither
Typhoeus [her consort] shall avail you nor ill-famed Khimaira (Chimera) [her spawn], but here, shall the Earth
and shining Hyperion [Helios the Sun] make you rot (pytho).’"
Lasus, Fragment 706A (from Natale Conti, Mythology) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek
Lyric III) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) :
"The Sphinx was daughter of Ekhidna (Echidna) and Typhon, according to Lasus of Hermione."
Bacchylides, Fragment 5 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric IV) (Greek lyric C5th
B.C.) :
"The jagged-toothed dog [Kerberos (Cerberus)], son of unapproachable Ekhidna (Echidna)."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 42 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.)
:
"Grabbing the sickle he [Typhon] cut out the sinews from Zeus' hands and feet. Then, placing Zeus up on his
shoulders he carried him across the sea to Kilikia (Cilicia), where he deposited him in the Korykrian (Corycian)
cave. He also hid away the sinews there in the skin of a bear, and posted as guard over them the drakaina
(dracaena) Delphyne--a girl who was half animal. But Hermes and Aegipan stole back the sinews."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 31 :
"It [the Khimaira (Chimera)] was allegedly reared by Amisodaros, as Homer also states, and according to
Hesiod its parents were Typhon and Ekhidna (Echidna)."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 52 :
"While he [Kreon (Creon)] was king, quite a scourge held Thebes in suppression, for Hera sent upon them the
Sphinx, whose parents were Ekhidna (Echidna) and Typhon."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 113 :
"An immortal serpent [the Drakon Hesperios (Hesperian Dragon)] guarded them [the golden apples], the child
of Typhon and Ekhidna (Echidna), with one hundred heads which spoke with voices of various types."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 120 :
"When he [Herakles] reached the mainland on the other side he killed with an arrow the Eagle on the
Kaukasos (Caucasus), the product of Ekhidna (Echidna) and Typhon that had been eating the liver of
Prometheus."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca E1. 1 :
"Theseus slew the sow at Krommyon (Crommyon) called Phaia (Phaea) after the old woman who kept it. Some say
its parents were Ekhidna (Echidna)and Typhon."
Callimachus, Fragment 515 (trans. Trypanis) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"The foreigner [Herakles] bringing the monstrous son [Kerberos (Cerberus)] of Ekhidna (Echidna)from
below."
Callimachus, Fragment 116 :
"Drakaina (Dracaena) Delphyne."
Lycophron, Alexandra 1351 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"The waters of the lake [perhaps the salt-lake of Tatta in Kilikia (Cilicia)] where the spouse [Ekhidna
(Echidna)] of Typhon couches in the hidden recess of her dread bed."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 18. 10 ff (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd
A.D.) :
"[Amongst the depictions decorating the throne of the statue of Apollo at Amyklai (Amyclae) in Lakonoia :]
On the left stand Ekhidna (Echidna) and Typhos, on the right Tritones." [N.B. The coiling serpent-tails of
the one pair balances the coiling fish-tails of the other.]
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 6. 260 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.)
:
"Kerberos (Cerberus), whom Ekhidna (Echidna) (the Loathly Worm) had borne to Typhon in a craggy cavern's
gloom close on the borders of Eternal Night."
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 6. 249 :
"That most murderous hound Orthros (Orthrus), in furious might like Kerberos (Cerberus) his
brother-hound."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"From Typhon and Echidna [were born] : Gorgon, Cerberus, Dragon (Draco) which guarded the golden
fleece at Colchis, Scylla who was woman above but dog-forms below whom Hercules killed, Chimaera (Chimera),
Sphinx who was in Boeotia, Hydra serpent which had nine heads which Hercules killed, and the Hesperian Dragon
(Draco Hesperidum)."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 151 :
"From Typhon the giant and Echidna were born Gorgon, the three-headed dog Cerberus, the Draco (Dragon)
which guarded the apples of the Hesperides across oceanus, the Hydra which Hercules killed by the spring of
Lerna, the Draco (Dragon) which guarded the ram's fleece at Colchis, Scylla who was woman above but dog below,
with six dog-forms sprung from her body, the Sphinx which was in Boeotia, the Chimaera (Chimera) in Lycia which
ahd the fore part of a lion, the hind part of a snake, while the she-goat itself formed the middle."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 15 :
"He [Zeus] sent an Eagle to him to eat out his liver which was constantly renewed at night. Some have said
that this eagle was born from Typhon and Echidna, other from Terra (Earth) [Gaia] and Tartarus."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7. 412 (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.)
:
"Poisoned aconite . . . said to be slobbered by Echidnaea [i.e. Kerberos (Cerberus) son of Ekhidna]."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 69 :
"How could you compare with Echidna Lernaea [i.e. the Hydra, child of Ekhidna]."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 18. 274 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"[Ares] brought low such another, Ekhidna's (Echidna's) son, the gods' enemy, spitting the horrible poison
of hideous Ekhidna. He had two shapes together, and in the forest he shook the twisting coils of his mother's
spine." [N.B. This monstrous child of Ekhidna is unnamed.]
ECHIDNA-PYTHON SLAIN BY APOLLO
Homeric Hymn 3 to Apollo 356 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - 4th B.C.)
:
"Straightway large-eyed queenly Hera took him [her child Typhaon (Typhoeus)] and bringing one evil thing to
another such, gave him to the Drakaina (Dracaena) [Python-Ekhidna]; and she received him. And this Typhaon used
to work great mischief among the famous tribes of men. Whosoever met the Drakaina, the day of doom would sweep
him away, until the lord Apollon, who deals death from afar, shot a strong arrow at her. Then she, rent with
bitter pangs, lay drawing great gasps for breath and rolling about that place. An awful noise swelled up
unspeakable as she writhed continually this way and that amid the wood : and so she left her life, breathing it
forth in blood. Then Phoibos (Phoebus) Apollon boasted over her : ‘Now rot here upon the soil that feeds
man! You at least shall live no more to be a fell bane to men who eat the fruit of the all-nourishing earth, and
who will bring hither perfect hecatombs. Against cruel death neither Typhoeus [her consort] shall avail you nor
ill-famed Khimaira (Chimera) [her spawn], but here, shall the Earth and shining Hyperion make you
rot.’
Thus said Phoibos, exulting over her: and darkness covered her eyes. And the holy strength of Helios made her
rot away there; wherefore the place is now called Pytho (the Rotting), and men call the lord Apollon by another
name, Pythian; because on that spot the power of piercing Helios made the monster rot away."
For MORE information see PYTHON
ECHIDNA DAEMON OF TARTARUS
Aristophanes, Frogs 475 ff (trans. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.)
:
"[Aiakos (Aeacus), the doorman of Haides, threatens Dionysos in the Underworld :] ‘The black hearted
Stygian rock and the crag of Akheron (Acheron) dripping with gore can hold you; and the circling hounds of
Kokytos (Cocytus) and the hundred-headed serpent (ekhidna) [Typhoeus or Ladon] shall tear your
entrails; your lungs will be attacked by the Myraina Tartesia (the Tartesian Eel) [Ekhidna], your kidneys
bleeding with your very entrails the Gorgones Teithrasiai (Tithrasian Gorgons) will rip apart.’"
Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 500 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.)
:
"[The Erinys] Tisiphone brought with her poisons too of magic power [to invoke madness] : lip-froth of
Cerberus, the Echidna's venom, wild deliriums, blindnesses of the brain, and crime and tears, and maddened lust
for murder; all ground up, mixed with fresh blood, boiled in a pan of bronze, and stirred with a green hemlock
stick."
COMPARE with the Drakaina KAMPE
SOURCES
GREEK
- Homer, The Iliad - Greek Epic C8th B.C.
- Hesiod, Theogony - Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
- Greek Lyric III Lasus, Fragments - Greek Lyric C6th B.C.
- Greek Lyric IV Bacchylides, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
- Aristophanes, Frogs - Greek Comedy C5th - 4th B.C.
- Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Callimachus, Fragments - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
- Lycophron, Alexandra - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th A.D.
- Nonnus, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th A.D.
ROMAN
- Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.