Erinna, a poetess of Lesbos, intimate with Sappho. Pliny, bk. 34, ch. 8.
Erinnys, the Greek name of the Eumenides. The word signifies the fury of the mind, ἐρις νους. See: [Eumenides]. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 2, li. 337.——A surname of Ceres, on account of her amour with Neptune under the form of a horse. Pausanias, bk. 8, chs. 25 & 42.
Eriopis, a daughter of Medea. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 3.
Eriphănis, a Greek woman famous for her poetical compositions. She was extremely fond of the hunter Melampus, and to enjoy his company she accustomed herself to live in the woods. Athenæus, bk. 14.
Eriphidas, a Lacedæmonian, who being sent to suppress a sedition at Heraclea, assembled the people and beheaded 500 of the ringleaders. Diodorus, bk. 14.
Erĭphȳle, a sister of Adrastus king of Argos, who married Amphiaraus. She was daughter of Talaus and Lysimache. When her husband concealed himself that he might not accompany the Argives in their expedition against Thebes, where he knew he was to perish, Eriphyle suffered herself to be bribed by Polynices with a golden necklace, which had been formerly given to Hermione by the goddess Venus, and she discovered where Amphiaraus was. This treachery of Eriphyle compelled him to go to the war; but before he departed, he charged his son Alcmæon to murder his mother as soon as he was informed of his death. Amphiaraus perished in the expedition, and his death was no sooner known than his last injunctions were obeyed, and Eriphyle was murdered by the hands of her son. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 445.—Homer, Odyssey, bk. 11.—Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 4, ch. 18.—Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 9; bk. 3, chs. 6 & 7.—Hyginus, fable 73.—Pausanias, bk. 5, ch. 17.
Eris, the goddess of discord among the Greeks. She is the same as the Discordia of the Latins. See: [Discordia].
Erisichthon, a Thessalian, son of Triops, who derided Ceres and cut down her groves. This impiety irritated the goddess, who afflicted him with continual hunger. He squandered all his possessions to gratify the cravings of his appetite, and at last he devoured his own limbs for want of food. His daughter Metra had the power of transforming herself into whatever animal she pleased, and she made use of that artifice to maintain her father, who sold her, after which she assumed another shape, and became again his property. Ovid, Metamorphoses, fable 18.
Erithus, a son of Actor, killed by Perseus. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 5.
Erixo, a Roman knight condemned by the people for having whipped his son to death. Seneca, bk. 1, de Clementia, ch. 14.