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

1. Graves, p. 47.
2. Tzetzes on Lycophron, 1206 (Gk text) with the historian Lycus as the authority
3. 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.
4. Pausanias, 9.34.1–2; Graves, p. 45
5. 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.