Harpy

—harpylike, adj.

/hahr"pee/, n., pl. Harpies.

1. Class. Myth. a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.

2. (l.c.) a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew.

3. (l.c.) a greedy, predatory person.

[ < L Harpyia, sing. of Harpyiae < Gk Hárpyiai (pl.), lit., snatchers, akin to harpázein to snatch away]

* * *

In Greek and Roman mythology, a bird of prey with a woman's face.

Often depicted on tombs, Harpies may originally have been conceived of as ghosts. In early Greek literature, including the writings of Homer and Hesiod, they were wind spirits and were not represented as ugly or repellent. In the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, however, the Harpies were hideous, foul-smelling birds with the faces of women, sent to punish King Phineus of Thrace by defiling his food; they were frightened away by the sons of Boreas.

* * *

▪ mythology

 in Greco-Roman classical mythology, a fabulous creature, probably a wind spirit. The presence of harpies as tomb figures, however, makes it possible that they were also conceived of as ghosts. In Homer's Odyssey they were winds that carried people away. Elsewhere, they were sometimes connected with the powers of the underworld. Homer mentions one Harpy called Podarge (Swiftfoot). Hesiod mentions two, Aello and Okypete (Stormswift and Swiftwing).

      These early Harpies were in no way disgusting. Later, however, especially in the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, they were represented as birds with the faces of women, horribly foul and loathsome. They were sent to punish the Thracian king Phineus for his ill-treatment of his children; the Harpies snatched the food from his table and left a disgusting smell. Calais and Zetes, the sons of Boreas, finally delivered him. Virgil imitated the episode in the Aeneid; he called the chief Harpy Celaeno (Dark).

* * *