HARPINA

HARPINA was the Naiad-nymph of a spring, well or fountain of the town of Pisa in Elis (southern Greece). She the mother by Ares of Oinomaos (Oenomaus)--a barbarous king of Pisa famed for decorating his palace with the heads of the suitors of his daughter Hippodameia.

Harpina's name was derived by the Greek word harpê meaning "sickle-shaped sword."

She was probably identified with the Pleiad Sterope who was otherwise named as the mother of Oinomaos by Ares.

PARENTS

ASOPOS (Pausanias 5.22.6, Diodorus Siculus 4.73.1)

OFFSPRING

OINOMAOS (by Ares) (Pausanias 5.22.6, Diodorus Siculus 4.73.1)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

HARPINNA (Harpinna), a daughter of Asopus, from whom the town of Harpina or Harpinna in Elis was believed to have derived its name. (Paus. vi. 21. § 6.) She became by Ares the mother of Oenomaus. (v. 22. § 5.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 22. 6 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"The Phliasians also dedicated [at Olympia] a Zeus, the daughters of Asopos (Asopus), and Asopos himself. Their images have been ordered thus : Nemea is the first of the sisters, and after her comes Zeus seizing Aigina (Aegina); by Aigina stands Harpina, who, according to the traditions of the Eleans and Phliasians, mated with Ares and was the mother of Oinomaos (Oenomaus), king around Pisa."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 73. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"In the city of Pisa in the Peloponnesos Ares lay with Harpine (Harpina), the daughter of Asopos, and begat Oinomaus (Oenomaus)."

SOURCES

GREEK

• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
• Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.