Myrina (mythology)

In Greek mythology, the name Myrina or Myrine (Ancient Greek: Μύρινα, Μυρίννη, Μυρίννα) may refer to the following individuals:

• Myrina, a queen of the Amazons. According to Diodorus Siculus,^[1] she led a military expedition in Libya and won a victory over the people known as the Atlantians, destroying their city Cerne; but was less successful fighting the Gorgons (who are described by Diodorus as a warlike nation residing in close proximity to the Atlantians), failing to burn down their forests. During a later campaign, she struck a treaty of peace with Horus, ruler of Egypt, conquered several peoples, including the Syrians, the Arabians, and the Cilicians (but granted freedom to those of the latter who gave in to her of their own will). She also took possession of Greater Phrygia, from the Taurus Mountains to the Caicus River, and several Aegean islands, including Lesbos; she was also said to be the first to land on the previously uninhabited island which she named Samothrace, building the temple there. The cities of Myrina (in Lemnos),^[2] possibly another Myrina in Mysia, Mytilene, Cyme, Pitane, and Priene were believed to have been founded by her, and named after herself, her sister Mytilene, and the commanders in her army, Cyme, Pitane and Priene, respectively.^[3] Myrina's army was eventually defeated by Mopsus the Thracian and Sipylus the Scythian; she, as well as many of her fellow Amazons, fell in the final battle.
• Myrina, daughter of Cretheus and wife of Thoas, another possible eponym for the city of Myrina on Lemnos.^[4][5]
• Myrina, a person whose tomb in Troad is mentioned in the Iliad,^[6] see Batea (mythology). Was identified with Myrina the Amazon.^[7][8]

References

1. Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 3. 54-56
2. Stephanus of Byzantium, s. v. Myrina
3. See also Strabo, Geography, 11. 5. 5. = 12. 3. 22
4. Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, 1. 601
5. Etymologicum Magnum, 595, 20, under Μυρίννα
6. Homer, Iliad, 2. 814
7. Strabo, Geography, 12. 8. 6
8. Tzetzes on Lycophron, 243 discusses Myrina, a suburb (πολίχνη) of Troy, which is named after "an Amazon called Myrina, who had died there"

Sources

• Realencyclopädie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft, Band XVI, Halbband 31, Molatzes-Myssi (1933), s. 1095-1097 (German)

External links

• Myth Index - Myrina