Euphrosyne is the Greek goddess of Good Cheer, Joy, Mirth and Merriment and a member of The Graces.
Genealogy and Family[]
She and her triplet sisters Aglaia and Thalia are usually recorded as the daughters of Zeus, the King of the Gods and the Oceanid, Eurynome, and are known as The Three Graces. Euphrosyne has four maternal nieces from Aglaea who are Younger Graces. Her maternal grandparents are Titans, Oceanus and Tethys and paternal grandparents are the Titans, Cronus and Rhea.
Role and Significance[]
As a Grace, she is assigned to serve the Olympian Gods at celebrations, some of which she organises. She and her fellow Graces are attendants to Aphrodite, alongside Peitho and Eros, fulfilling several chores for her. They are also part of Hera's retinue.
She was worshipped in Ancient Greece, her main cult was in Boeotia.
Stories[]
At the birth of the first human woman Pandora- The Graces and Peitho bestowed Pandora with golden necklaces.
Appearance and Personality[]
Euphrosyne is described as a beautiful woman in the prime of her youth, she has been depicted in art, nude or in classic Ancient Greek garments, sometimes singularly or alongside her triplet sisters, Aglaia and Thalia, where they are sometimes seen dancing in a circle or standing in a line side by side.
Her personality is described as very joyful and happy and very friendly. She is a likable person and friends with a lot of Olympians, including her sisters. According to Pindar, she is a lover of song and dance.
Trivia[]
Her name is the female version of a Greek word euphrosynos, which means "merriment".
Εὐφροσύνη is the Greek spelling of her name.
She was also called Euthymia (Ancient Greek: Εὐθυμία) meaning "good mood" and Eutychia (Εὐτυχία) meaning "good luck".
According to the Roman Author, Hyginus in his work, Fabulae a figure named Euphrosyne is the daughter of Nyx and Erebus.
The asteroid, 31 Euphrosyne was named after her.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
Theoi.com