Aganippe (/æɡəˈnɪp/; Ancient Greek: Ἀγανίππη means 'mare who kills mercifully'[1]) was a name or epithet of several figures in Greek mythology:

  • Aganippe, a naiad of the spring Aganippe.[2][3]
  • Aganippe, wife of King Acrisius of Argos,[4] and according to some accounts the mother of Danaë[5] and possibly Evarete.[6] Although in some accounts, Eurydice was wife of Acrisius and the mother of Danae.[7][8]
  • Aganippe, an aspect of Demeter. In this form she was a black winged horse worshiped by certain cults. In this aspect her idols (such as one found in Mavrospelya, the Black Cave, in Phigalia) she was portrayed as mare-headed with a mane entwined with Gorgon Snakes. This aspect was also associated with Anion (or Arion) whom Heracles rode, who later inspired tales of Pegasus.[9]

Aganippis, a name used by Ovid as an epithet of Hippocrene;[10] its meaning however is not quite clear. It is derived from Aganippe, the well or nymph, and as "Aganippides" is used to designate the Muses, Aganippis Hippocrene may mean nothing more than "Hippocrene, sacred to the Muses".[11]

Namesake

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Aganippe, a genus of trapdoor spiders

Notes

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  1. ^ Graves, Robert (2017). The Greek Myths - The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. pp. Index s.v. Aganippe. ISBN 9780241983386.
  2. ^ Pausanias, 9.29.5
  3. ^ Perseus Encyclopedia, Aganippe
  4. ^ Smith, "Aganippe" 2.
  5. ^ Scholia ad Apollonius Rhodius, 4.1091; Hyginus, Fabulae 63
  6. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 84
  7. ^ Apollodorus, 2.2.2
  8. ^ Bell, Robert E. (1991). Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-CLIO. p. 14. ISBN 9780874365818.
  9. ^ Walker, B. G. The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, pg 219
  10. ^ Ovid, Fasti 5.7
  11. ^ Smith, "Aganippis"

References

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  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainSmith, William, ed. (1870). "Aganippe". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.