| Stheno | |
|---|---|
| Parents | Phorcys and Ceto |
| Siblings | The Hesperides, Euryale, Medusa, The Graea, Thoosa, Scylla, and Ladon |
Stheno (Greek: Σθεννώ, English translation: "forceful"), in Greek mythology, was the eldest of the Gorgons, vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and "hair" made of living venomous snakes. The daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, she was born in the caverns beneath Mount Olympus. She and her sister Euryale were both immortal, and the third sister, Medusa, was mortal.
Of the three Gorgons, she was known to be the most independent and ferocious, having killed more men than both of her sisters combined. In Roman mythology she became this way by standing with her sister, Medusa, when Medusa was cursed by Athena. Medusa was cursed by Athena because Poseidon took favor with her in the Temple of Athena. Athena was furious, but not with Poseidon. As a powerful male god, this would be expected of him. In the eyes of Athena, it was Medusa who deserved to be punished. As a punishment, she was changed into a terrible monster. Stheno tends to be depicted as a thin gorgon monster with red snakes curling around her head instead of hair.