Greek Mythology

Retold by Misty Baxter

The ErinyesThe ErinyesThe Erinyes were known

as the goddesses of revenge. They were three sisters whose parents were Gaia and Uranos. They were born when one of Uranos’ sons cut him, and the blood dripped onto Gaia. Their anger fueled their need for revenge.

The Three FuriesIn Ancient Greece, these three sisters

were called the Erinyes or Eumenides, but they are more recognized today by their Roman name, The Furies. They were responsible for punishing criminals in the underworld. Each sister punished different crimes and in different ways. Alecto, the unresting, drove criminals insane with her constant noise. Megaera is the sister who punished people who acted out because of jealousy or envy. And Tisiphone avenged the murdered. They usually worked together.

In both Greek and Roman mythology, the Furies were ugly. With blood dripping from their eyes, they were often depicted with snakes entwined around their bodies, arms, legs, and in their hair.

Living in the underworld with Hades and Persephone, they punished all kinds of crimes. They gave the most importance to anyone who had hurt or killed their mother or father.

More on the FuriesMore on the Furies

Fun FactsFun Facts

Our words furious and infuriate originated from the Roman name Furies.

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