PIRENE IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Pirene was a Naiad nymph in the tales of Greek mythology; the Naiad nymphs being the daughters of the various river gods, Potamoi, with the nymphs associated with sources of freshwater. 

Pirene Daughter of Asopus

​Pirene is commonly said to have been the daughter of the Potamoi Asopus, the river god of the river of the same name the flows through Boeotia.

​Asopus’ wife, and mother of Pirene is commonly said to have been Metope, another Naiad nymph. 

Other sources occasionally name the father of Pirene as being either Achelous or King Oebalus. 

​Pirene and Poseidon

The Naiad nymphs were renowned for their beauty, and the beauty of Pirene caught the eye of Poseidon, the Olympian god. Poseidon would abduct Pirene, taking her to his sacred city of Corinth. 

Pirene would father two sons by Poseidon, Lechaes and Cenchrias. The harbours of Corinth, Lechaeum and Cenchrae were named after the sons of Pirene and Poseidon. 

​The Pirene Fountain

Pirene’s son Cenchrae would be accidentally killed by the goddess Artemis, perhaps accidentally shot by one of the goddess’ arrows, as Artemis undertook a hunt. The grief of Pirene was such that she cried and cried, until nothing remained of the lover of Poseidon, aside from her tears, which formed the famous Pirene fountain outside of the gates of Corinth. 

The fountain that resulted from the tears of Pirene was said to have been sacred to the Younger Muses in Greek mythology, and was also closely associated with the mythical flying horse, Pegasus.  The fountain of Pirene was thus much venerated in antiquity. 

The death of Cenchirias, son of Neptune and the nymph Peirene - Sophie Fremiet (1797–1867) - PD-art-100

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Pirene - 27th January 2024