Iodame

In Greek mythology, Iodame or Iodama (/aɪˈɒdəmiː/; Ancient Greek: Ἰοδάμη or Ἰοδάμα probably means 'heifer calf of Io'^[1]) was a Thessalian princess as the daughter of King Itonus of Iton in Phthiotis. She was the granddaughter of Amphictyon.^[2]

Family

Iodame was the mother of Thebe by Zeus^[2] while some authors, adds a son, Deucalion.^[3]

Mythology

Iodame was a priestess at the temple of Athena Itonia built by her father. When she trespassed the precinct one night, Athena appeared in front of her; at the sight of Medusa's head which was worked in the goddess' garment, Iodame turned into a block of stone. After this, a priestess lit the fire on the altar every day, repeating thrice: "Iodame lives and demands fire".^[4]

An alternate story of Athene and Iodama relates that both were daughters of Itonius. They became jealous of each other and started fighting, which resulted in Iodame being killed by Athena.^[5] The story is similar to that of Athena and Pallas (daughter of Triton).

Notes

^ Graves, p. 47.
^ ^a ^b Tzetzes on Lycophron, 1206 (Gk text) with the historian Lycus as the authority
^ Murray, John (1833). A Classical Manual, being a Mythological, Historical and Geographical Commentary on Pope's Homer, and Dryden's Aeneid of Virgil with a Copious Index. Albemarle Street, London. p. 8.
^ Pausanias, 9.34.1–2; Graves, p. 45
^ Tzetzes ad Lycophron, 355 (Gk text) with Simonides the genealogist as the authority; Etymologicum Magnum 479.47, under Itonis

References

Graves, Robert, The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. 2017. ISBN 978-0-241-98338-6, 024198338X
Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.