Hyrnetho
Encyclopedia
In Greek mythology
, Hyrnetho was a daughter of Temenus
, and the wife of Deiphontes
, by whom she became mother of Antimenes, Xanthippus, Argeus and Orsobia.
Temenus favored his daughter Hyrnetho and her husband Deiphontes more than his sons, Hyrnetho's brothers, and planned on making Deiphontes his heir. His sons plotted against him and killed him, but nevertheless, the kingdom of Argos
passed to Deiphontes and Hyrnetho, since the army supported them rather than Temenus' sons; alternately, the kingdom was seized by Ceisus, the eldest son of Temenus. The brothers knew they would hurt their rival Deiphontes the most if they separated him from Hyrnetho. So Cerynes and Phalces, ignoring the objections of their youngest brother Agraeus, came to Epidaurus
, where Hyrnetho and Deiphontes resided. At first they tried to persuade Hyrnetho to leave her husband and go with them, promising her to marry her to a better person and making heavy accusations against Deiphontes. She didn't believe any of the accusations and defended her husband passionately; so the brothers simply carried her off by force. Upon hearing of it, Deiphontes rushed to her rescue. He shot Cerynes with an arrow, but was afraid to shoot at Phalces, who was holding Hyrnetho; he caught up with his chariot and attempted to get Hyrnetho away. But Phalces dragged her back with such violence that it killed her (she was pregnant at the time).
Hyrnetho was buried by her husband and children at a place which later received the name of Hyrnethium. Her tomb and a heroum, with a sacred grove, were shown at Epidaurus
and Argos
.
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Hyrnetho was a daughter of Temenus
Temenus
In Greek mythology, Temenus was a son of Aristomachus and brother of Cresphontes and Aristodemus. He was a great-great-grandson of Heracles and helped lead the fifth and final attack on Mycenae in the Peloponnese. He became King of Argos. He was the father of Ceisus, Káranos, Phalces, Agraeus,...
, and the wife of Deiphontes
Deiphontes
Deiphontes was king of Argos. He was a son of Antimachus, and husband of Hyrnetho, the daughter of Temenus the Heracleide, by whom he became the father of Antimenes, Xanthippus, Argeius, and Orsobia...
, by whom she became mother of Antimenes, Xanthippus, Argeus and Orsobia.
Temenus favored his daughter Hyrnetho and her husband Deiphontes more than his sons, Hyrnetho's brothers, and planned on making Deiphontes his heir. His sons plotted against him and killed him, but nevertheless, the kingdom of Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
passed to Deiphontes and Hyrnetho, since the army supported them rather than Temenus' sons; alternately, the kingdom was seized by Ceisus, the eldest son of Temenus. The brothers knew they would hurt their rival Deiphontes the most if they separated him from Hyrnetho. So Cerynes and Phalces, ignoring the objections of their youngest brother Agraeus, came to Epidaurus
Epidaurus
Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the peripheral unit of Argolis...
, where Hyrnetho and Deiphontes resided. At first they tried to persuade Hyrnetho to leave her husband and go with them, promising her to marry her to a better person and making heavy accusations against Deiphontes. She didn't believe any of the accusations and defended her husband passionately; so the brothers simply carried her off by force. Upon hearing of it, Deiphontes rushed to her rescue. He shot Cerynes with an arrow, but was afraid to shoot at Phalces, who was holding Hyrnetho; he caught up with his chariot and attempted to get Hyrnetho away. But Phalces dragged her back with such violence that it killed her (she was pregnant at the time).
Hyrnetho was buried by her husband and children at a place which later received the name of Hyrnethium. Her tomb and a heroum, with a sacred grove, were shown at Epidaurus
Epidaurus
Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the peripheral unit of Argolis...
and Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
.