POINE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
In Greek mythology, Poine was one of the many spirits described as personifications of acts or events. As such, Poine was the personification of retribution and punishment.
Poine in Greek Mythology
The ancestry of Poine is not widely expanded on, although the Roman writer Hyginus, suggests Poine was the offspring of Aether and Gaia, both primordial deities of the Greek pantheon. Sometimes referred to in the singular, it was also not uncommon to find mention of many Poinai.
Poine was commonly found close to Nemesis, the Greek goddess of Divine Retribution, and also Dike, the goddess of justice. Poine would therefore be responsible for dishing out punishment on those who deserved it. |
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Occasionally, Poine is described as mother of the Erinyes. More commonly though, the Erinyes, are named as children of Gaia or Nyx.
Poine Comes to Argos
The physical manifestation of a Poine, or the Poine, occurs in a tale of Argos. During the rule of King Crotopus, Apollo visited the kingdom, and sought out the beauty that was Psamathe, the daughter of the king,
Apollo would lie with Psamathe, who would become pregnant with the god’s son, Linus. Fearful of her father’s reaction though, Psamathe would abandon her son on the hillside, and Linus was killed by a pack of god.
Apollo would then send forth Poine, in the form of She-Dragon, a serpentine monster, that would go house to house in Argos, killing the children of Crotopus’ kingdom. This Poine was also a man killer, and all those who tried to stop her were killed, until the hero Coroebus finally killed her.
Apollo would lie with Psamathe, who would become pregnant with the god’s son, Linus. Fearful of her father’s reaction though, Psamathe would abandon her son on the hillside, and Linus was killed by a pack of god.
Apollo would then send forth Poine, in the form of She-Dragon, a serpentine monster, that would go house to house in Argos, killing the children of Crotopus’ kingdom. This Poine was also a man killer, and all those who tried to stop her were killed, until the hero Coroebus finally killed her.
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Colin Quartermain - Poine - 2nd March 2024