Megaera (/məˈdʒɪərə/ mə-JEER-ə; Ancient Greek: Μέγαιρα, romanized: Mégaira, lit. ‘the jealous one‘[1]) is one of the Erinyes, Eumenides or “Furies” in classical mythology. Bibliotheca Classica states “According to the most received opinions, they were three in number, Tisiphone, “Megaera … daughter of Nyx and Acheron“,[2] and Alecto“.[3]
In other versions, she and her sisters, as well as the Meliae, were born of the blood of Uranus when Cronus castrated him.[4]
In modern French (mégère), Portuguese (megera), Modern Greek (μέγαιρα), Italian (megera), Polish (megiera), Russian (мегера), Ukrainian (меґера), Czech (megera) and Swedish (megära), this name denotes a jealous or spiteful woman. She is not to be confused with Megara, the wife of Heracles.
Namesakes
Minor planet 464 Megaira is named in her honour.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Related to μεγαίρω “to grudge, envy” from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh2– “great” (see Robert S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009, p. 917).
- ^ Lamprière’s Classical Dictionary of Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors, 1949, p. 366
- ^ Lamprière’s Classical Dictionary of Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors, 1949, p. 234
- ^ Graves, Robert (1960). The Greek Myths. London: Penguin Books. pp. 37. ISBN 9780140171990.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ “(464) Megaira”. (464) Megaira In: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer. 2003. p. 52. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_465. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.
