Parthenos (mythology)

In Greek mythology, the name Parthenos (Παρθένος "virgin") may refer to:

Daughter of Staphylus and Chrysothemis, sister of Rhoeo and Molpadia (Hemithea). After a suicide attempt she and Hemithea were carried by Apollo to Chersonesus, whereupon Parthenos became a local goddess in Bubastus^[1]. An obscure goddess known as Parthenos was actually worshipped throughout Chersonesus in historical times^[2]^[3].

Daughter of Apollo and Chrysothemis, who died a maiden and was placed among the stars as the constellation Virgo^[4]. Her story might be a variant for that of the precedent.

An epithet of the virgin goddesses Athena^[5] and Artemis^[6], also of Hera^[7]. In poetical texts, occurs as an occasional epithet of other female divinities, such as Adrasteia, Dike, Hebe, Hecate, Persephone, Nemesis, Iris.

References

^ Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 5. 62. 3 - 4
^ Strabo, Geography, 7. 4. 2
^ Stephanus of Byzantium s. v. Parthenou hieron
^ Hyginus, Poetical Astronomy, 2. 25
^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 5. 11. 10; 10. 34. 8; see Athena Parthenos
^ Homeric Hymn 27. 1; Euripides, Trojan Women, 551
^ Scholia on Pindar, Olympian Ode 6. 149; Stephanus of Byzantium s. v. Hermion