Pirene (mythology)

:homophone|Pyrene (mythology) ( _el. Πυρήνη). Note that the names had a different pronunciation in Ancient Greek.

In Greek mythology, Pirene or "Peirene" ( _el. Πειρήνη), a nymph, was either the daughter of Oebalus, King of Laconia or the River God Achelous, depending on different sources. Her child, Cenchrias was unintentionally killed by Artemis. Her grief was so profound that she became nothing but tears and turned into the fountain outside the gates of Corinth. The Corinthians had a small sanctuary dedicated to Pirene by the fountain where honey-cakes were offered to her to during the dry months of early summer.

The fountain was sacred to the Muses and Bellerophon found Pegasus there (as Polyidus had claimed), drinking, and tamed him.

See also

Pirene (fountain)