Graeae


In Greek mythology the Graeae, also called the Grey Sisters and the Phorcides, were three sisters who shared one eye and one tooth among them. Their names were Deino, Enyo, and Pemphredo.

Etymology

The word Graeae is probably derived from the adjective γραῖα graia "old woman", derived from the PIE root *ǵerh2-/*ǵreh2-, "to grow old" via Proto-Greek *gera-/grau-iu.

Mythology

The Graeae were daughters of the sea-deities Phorcys and Ceto and sisters to the Gorgons. The Graeae took the form of old, grey-haired women. Their age was so great that a human childhood for them was hardly conceivable. In Theogony, however, Hesiod describes the Graeae as being "fair-cheeked". In Prometheus Bound, the Graeae are described as being swan-shaped
Hesiod names only two Graeae, the "well-clad" Pemphredo and the "saffron-robed" Enyo. Pseudo-Apollodorus lists Deino as a third. Calling them "Phorcides", Hyginus, in addition to Pemphredo and Enyo, adds Persis noting that "for this last others say Dino".
They shared one eye and one tooth, which they took turns using. By stealing their eye while they were passing it among themselves, the hero Perseus forced them to tell the whereabouts of the three objects needed to kill Medusa by ransoming their shared eye for the information.

Genealogy