Euphrosyne (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Euphrosyne (Εὐφροσύνη) (pronEng|juːˈfrɒzəni] ) was one of the Charites, known in English also as the "Three Graces". Her best remembered representation in English is in Milton's poem of the active, joyful life, "L'Allegro". She is also the Goddess of Joy, a daughter of Zeus and Eurynome, and the incarnation of grace and beauty.

She can be seen along with the other two Graces at the left of the painting in Botticelli's "Primavera".

A character in the Sally Potter film "Orlando", the fiancée of Orlando himself in the early section of the film, is named Euphrosyne.

There are, moreover, at least two instances of Euphrosinia in Russian and Ukrainian literature. It is the name given to Yaroslavna, the wife of Prince Igor, who laments the walls of Putivl' in the 12th-century epic from Ancient Rus', "The Lay of Igor's Raid" (Слово о полку Игореве). This is a notable example of the traditional role of women to mourn and lament. Euphrosinia is, in addition, the name of a character in Lesya Ukrainka's 1913 play, "Orgiya" (Орґія).

In Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables", "Euphrasie" is Cosette's real name.

The asteroid 31 Euphrosyne is named after the goddess. In Modern Greek, the name is usually transcribed as "Effrosini".