- This article is about the Wife of Ophion. For her sister with the same name, see Eurynome.
In some Orphic traditions of ancient Greek religion and mythology, Eurynome (Ancient Greek: Εὐρυνόμη meaning "broad pasture" or "wide-rulership") ruled the world with with her husband Ophion before the two of them were cast down by by Cronus and Rhea. She was a daughter of Oceanus and thus an Oceanid.
Mythology[]
Apollonius of Rhodes[]
Apollonius of Rhodes in his Argonautica (Book 1. line 495)[1] summarizes a song of Orpheus mentioning Eurynome as the wife of Ophion and daughter of Oceanus:
He sang how the earth, the heaven and the sea, once mingled together in one form, after deadly strife were separated each from the other; and how the stars and the moon and the paths of the sun ever keep their fixed place in the sky; and how the mountains rose, and how the resounding rivers with their nymphs came into being and all creeping things. And he sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Oceanus, held the sway of snowy Olympus, and how through strength of arm one yielded his prerogative to Cronos and the other to Rhea, and how they fell into the waves of Oceanus; but the other two meanwhile ruled over the blessed Titan-gods, while Zeus, still a child and with the thoughts of a child, dwelt in the Dictaean cave; and the earthborn Cyclopes had not yet armed him with the bolt, with thunder and lightning; for these things give renown to Zeus.
Lycophron[]
Lycophron in his Alexandra (line 1191)[2] relates that Zeus' mother, Rhea, is skilled in wrestling, having cast the former queen Eurynome into Tartarus.
Nonnus[]
Nonnus in his Dionysiaca mentions Eurynome when he has Zeus say after defeating Typhon (Book 2. line 563-5)[3]:
"A fine ally has old Kronos found in you, Typhoeus! Gaia could scarcely bring forth that great son for Iapetos! A jolly champion of Titanes! . . . Bring back Astraios to heaven; if you wish, let Eurynome and Ophion return to the sky, and Kronos in the train of that pair!’"
Eurynome is probably mentioned again in Book 8. line 158[4] as Hera says:
"I will go to the uttermost bounds of Oceanus and share the hearth of primeval Tethys; thence I will pass to the house of Harmonia and abide with Ophion."
Harmonia here is probably an error in the text for Eurynome.
| Preceded by: None (Title created) |
Queen of the Greek Gods Mythic |
Succeeded by Rhea |