Ocypete[pronunciation?] (
Ancient Greek: Ὠκυπέτη means 'swift wing') was one of the three
Harpies in
Greek mythology. She was also known as Ocypode (Ὠκυπόδη means "swift foot") or Ocythoe (Ὠκυθόη means "swift runner"). The Harpies were the daughters of the sea god
Thaumas and the
OceanidElectra.[1] Her harpy-sisters were
Aello (
Podarge) and
Celaeno, whereas other mentioned siblings were
Iris, and possibly
Arke[2] and
Hydaspes.[3] In other accounts, Harpies were called the progeny of
Typhoeus, father of these monsters,[4] or of
Pontus (Sea) and
Gaea (Earth) or of
Poseidon, god of the sea.[5]
Mythology
According to one story, the Harpies were chased by the
Boreads. Though the swiftest of the trio, Ocypete became exhausted, landed on an island in the middle of the ocean and begged for mercy from the gods. In Greek and Roman mythology, the Harpies were creatures employed by the higher gods to carry out punishments for crimes.
Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica translated by Mozley, J H. Loeb Classical Library Volume 286. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928.
Online version at theio.com.
H. J. Rose (1985). A Handbook of Greek Mythology. University Paperback, 1964.
Hard, Robin, The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology", Psychology Press, 2004,
ISBN9780415186360.
Google Books.