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Table of Epithets in Ovid's Metamorphoses

by Spencer Scorcelletti

Commentary #6 ()

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Choice of epithet is based on more than just avoiding repetition, e.g. Jupiter is Saturn’s son when he decides to destroy mankind, and Juno is his sister-wife at the moment he cannot refuse her.

See Commentary #5: Kinds of Epithets for precise meaning of each kind of epithet.

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Order Epithet Character Kind Gloss Sense Book Loc.
1 Titan the Sun Metonym The Sun is son of the Titan Hyperion; Ovid names the race for the individual. Used in a run of gods named before they exist — there is not yet a sun to be a god of. 1 11
2 Phoebe Diana Name Greek Phoibē, feminine of Phoibos; also a standard name for the moon. At 12 the word does duty for the moon itself, before there is a goddess to bear it. 1 12, 477
3 Amphitrite's waves Amphitrite Metonym A sea-goddess, wife of Neptune; her waves are simply the sea. 1 14
4 a god and better nature the creator Periphrasis Latin deus et melior natura. Ovid never settles whether the world was made by a god or by nature, and never supplies a name. 1 21
5 he — whichever of the gods he was the creator Generic Latin quisquis fuit ille deorum. The refusal to name is deliberate. Compare the precision lavished on four walk-on river gods at 579–80. 1 33
6 the might of god the creator Periphrasis Latin dei... vis. 1 48
7 the maker the creator Function Latin fabricator. 1 58
8 Eurus the east wind Name Greek name of the east wind. Ovid gives it no Latin alternative. 1 62
9 Zephyrus the west wind Name Greek name of the west wind. Also used as a plural common noun, “the Zephyrs” (108), for spring breezes generally. 1 65, 108
10 Boreas the north wind Name Greek name of the north wind. 1 65
11 Auster the south wind Name Latin name of the south wind. 1 67
12 the god the creator Generic 1 68
13 that same creator the creator Function Latin opifex rerum, “maker of things.” Same root as the title Apollo gives himself at 523, Aid-Bearer (opifer). 1 80
14 the son of Iapetus Prometheus Patronymic Iapetus is a Titan; the son is Prometheus. Named only by his father at the moment he makes humankind. The translator's own footnote has to supply “Prometheus.” 1 83
15 the Earth Earth Name Latin Tellus / Terra, personified. 1 102, 434
16 Jove Jupiter Name From Iovis, the oblique stem of Iuppiter. 1 106, 114, 166, 205, 244, 274, 517, 590, 615, 623, 673, 733, 748
17 Jupiter Jupiter Name The nominative Latin name. 1 116, 324, 589
18 Ceres' seeds Ceres Metonym Goddess of grain; the phrase means simply grain. The first sowing in the poem is dated by the goddess's name rather than the crop's. 1 123
19 the final god Astraea Periphrasis The last divinity to abandon the earth. The Iron Age is defined by her departure rather than by anything men do. 1 149
20 the maid Astraea Astraea Attribute Latin virgo Astraea, the Star-Maiden — Justice personified. 1 150
21 the Giants the Giants Name Latin Gigantas. 1 152, 156
22 the Almighty Jupiter Attribute Latin pater omnipotens. Kept for the Gigantomachy, where he is nothing but force. 1 154
23 their [the Giants'] Mother Earth Earth Relationship The Giants were born from her. 1 157
24 Saturn's son Jupiter Patronymic Latin Saturnius. Saturn is the father he deposed. Chosen for the line where he first looks down on Lycaon: the son who overthrew his father, about to destroy his own creation. 1 163
25 Lycaön Lycaön Name 1 164, 198, 221
26 the Thunderer Jupiter Cult title Latin Tonans, an actual cult title at Rome. Applied to his house rather than his person — gods travel the Milky Way to the Thunderer's address. 1 170
27 the ivory-sceptered one Jupiter Attribute Latin sceptro... eburno. The council of gods is staged as a session of the Roman senate, and its president is described by his regalia. 1 178
28 the monsters the Giants Periphrasis Latin anguipedum, “the snake-footed” — the Giants of 152, each preparing to throw a hundred arms at the sky. Jove is recalling the revolt Ovid has just narrated, but describes it as though it were another one. The translator's footnote has to confirm they are the same. 1 183–84
29 Nereus Nereus Metonym An old sea-god; his name stands for Ocean. Jove swears to destroy everything the sea encircles, and names the sea by a god who appears nowhere else in the poem. 1 187
30 the lord of gods and storms Jupiter Function Jove's phrase for himself, in council. 1 197
31 that Arcadian king Lycaön Periphrasis Arcadia is his kingdom. Jove withholds the name through the whole approach to the house, though he has used it twice already in council. 1 219
32 the Furies the Furies Metonym Latin Erinys; the goddesses of vengeance standing in for the state they cause. “Where lies the land, the Furies rule these beasts” — the crime is named by its goddess. 1 241
33 the king of gods Jupiter Function Latin rex superum. 1 250
34 the Cyclops' hand-wrought shafts the Cyclopes Metonym The thunderbolt, named by the smiths who forged it. Jove sets the bolt down, and the epithet turns his weapon back into an object somebody had to make. 1 259
35 Aquilo the north wind Name Latin name of the north wind — the same god as Boreas. Ovid uses the Greek name once and the Latin name twice, for one god, without signalling the switch. 1 263, 328
36 Notus the south wind Name Greek name of the south wind — the same god as Auster. The flood is loosed by Notus and dismissed by Aquilo: Greek name in, Latin name out. 1 264
37 Juno Juno Name The Latin name. 1 270, 602, 678
38 Juno's herald Iris, rainbow-robed Iris Function Latin nuntia Iunonis; the rainbow is both her office and her dress. 1 270
39 his [Jupiter's] sea-blue brother Neptune Relationship Latin caeruleus frater. He is given a colour and a relation before he is given a name. The name arrives eight lines later, with the trident. 1 275
40 Neptune Neptune Name The Latin name. 1 283, 330
41 Deucalion Deucalion Name 1 319, 350
42 Themis Themis Name Titaness of divine law. 1 321, 378
43 the god of oracles Themis Function Latin quae tunc oracla tenebat, “who at that time held the oracles.” Themis, not Apollo. She held Delphi before he took it, and the word doing the work is “then.” 1 321
44 the Sun the Sun Name Latin Sol. 1 338, 771
45 Pyrrha Pyrrha Name 1 350, 384
46 [Deucalion's] father Prometheus Relationship Deucalion wishes he could remake humanity “with my father's skill” — the thing Prometheus is for. 1 363
47 the goddess Themis Generic 1 372, 381, 388
48 O font of mercy Themis Periphrasis A vocative in prayer. 1 380
49 your [Deucalion and Pyrrha's] great mother Earth Relationship Themis' riddle: the “great mother” is the Earth, and her bones are stones. Pyrrha reads it literally and refuses. The epithet is a puzzle before it is a name. 1 383
50 Prometheus' son Deucalion Patronymic Son of the Titan who made humankind. Used at the moment he works out how to remake humankind — the son solving his father's problem. 1 390
51 Epimetheus' daughter Pyrrha Patronymic Epimetheus is Prometheus' brother, so she and Deucalion are cousins. 1 391
52 Mother Earth Earth Relationship Deucalion's solution to the riddle. 1 394
53 Titania Pyrrha Genealogy Granddaughter of the Titan Iapetus. Her one grand name arrives on the line where she hesitates and does not act. 1 396
54 the seven-channeled Nile the Nile Attribute Latin septemfluus — the seven mouths of the delta. 1 422
55 Great Python Python Name Addressed in the second person: “Against her will, she bore you then.” 1 439
56 the archer-god Apollo Function Latin deus arcitenens, “bow-holder.” Named by the weapon he is about to mock Cupid for carrying. 1 442
57 the vanquished snake Python Periphrasis Latin superati... serpentis; the Pythian games take their name from it. 1 448
58 Phoebus Apollo Name Greek Phoibos, “bright, radiant.” Also the Sun's name at 752, and Ovid never disambiguates. 1 451, 453, 490, 553
59 Daphne Daphne Name Greek daphnē, “laurel.” She carries the name of what she becomes from her first line. 1 453, 490
60 Cupid Cupid Name Latin Cupido, “desire.” 1 454
61 the Delian lord Apollo Cult site Latin Delius; born on Delos. 1 455
62 the boy-god Cupid Attribute Latin puer, “boy.” Apollo's word for him, and the reason he underestimates him. 1 456
63 Venus' son Cupid Matronymic Latin Veneris filius. His answer to being called a boy. 1 464
64 the god Cupid Generic 1 473
65 the Peneian nymph Daphne Patronymic Daughter of the river Peneus. 1 473
66 Apollo Apollo Name The Greek name; used once in Book 1. It appears only for the bone Cupid's arrow passes through. 1 474
67 Hymen Hymen Metonym God of weddings; the name stands for marriage itself. 1 480
68 Diana Diana Name The Latin name. 1 487, 695
69 [Diana's] father Jupiter Relationship Jupiter granted Diana perpetual virginity. Daphne's precedent for the request she makes of her own father. He enters the episode as a guarantor of chastity a hundred lines before he takes Io by force. 1 487
70 the god Apollo Generic 1 495, 540, 557
71 Peneus' daughter Daphne Patronymic Apollo calls her by her father — the father she will call on to destroy her shape. 1 504
72 lord of Delphi, Patara, Tenedos and Claros Apollo Cult site His four oracular seats. Recited to a woman who is running away from him. 1 515–16
73 Aid-Bearer Apollo Function Latin opifer, “help-bringer” — Apollo as god of medicine. Given by Apollo to himself, in the sentence where he admits no herb cures love. 1 523
74 the nymph Daphne Generic 1 526
75 the youthful god Apollo Attribute 1 532
76 Love Cupid Metonym Latin Amor. In the chase the god shrinks to the force he personifies: “Love's wings proved faster.” 1 541
77 Peneus Peneus Name A river of Thessaly, and Daphne's father. 1 544, 569
78 Laurel Daphne Name Latin laurus, the tree she becomes. Apollo names the tree, and the name turns out to have been hers all along. 1 559
79 Paean Apollo Cult title Greek Paian, the healer; also the name of a hymn. The healer's title, in the line after the healing fails. 1 566
80 the great stream Peneus Periphrasis Latin magni... amnis. 1 575
81 poplared Spercheus Spercheus Attribute Latin populifer — a Thessalian river lined with poplars. Four rivers, one stock adjective apiece, in two lines: the Homeric catalogue manner, compressed. 1 579
82 old Apidanus Apidanus Attribute Latin Apidanusque senex. 1 579
83 calm Amphrysus Amphrysus Attribute Latin placidus. 1 580
84 the wild Enipeus Enipeus Attribute Latin Enipeus ferox. 1 580
85 Inachus Inachus Name A river of Argos, and Io's father. His grief carries the book's hardest line about divinity: “To be a god is pain: death's doors are shut” (662). 1 583, 641, 644
86 his [Inachus'] lost daughter Io Io Relationship 1 585
87 him who wields Heaven's scepter and who hurls its wandering bolts Jupiter Periphrasis Jove introducing himself to Io. Two lines of self-description in place of a name, offered as reassurance, immediately before the rape. 1 596–97
88 her [Juno's] spouse Jupiter Relationship 1 605
89 the child of Inachus Io Patronymic Latin Inachis. She is turned into a cow in the same line that names her by her father. 1 611
90 Saturnia Juno Patronymic Daughter of Saturn — the same descent as Jove. Ovid's name for her whenever she is out-manoeuvring her husband. Her claim on the throne is exactly as good as his. 1 612, 616, 722
91 his [Jupiter's] sister-wife Juno Relationship Latin soror et coniunx: Juno is both. Produced at the moment Jove cannot refuse her the cow. The double claim is why he loses. 1 620
92 the goddess Juno Generic 1 622, 738
93 one Arestor's son Argus Patronymic Latin Arestoridae. 1 624
94 eye-bespangled Argus Argus Attribute Latin stellatus, “starred.” The same idea does his hundred eyes and, at 722, the peacock's tail they become. 1 664
95 the king of heaven Jupiter Function Latin caelestum rector. 1 668
96 Phoronis Io Genealogy Sister of Phoroneus, an early king of Argos. The rarest name in Book 1, and it lands on the line where Jupiter finally decides to help her. 1 669
97 his [Jupiter's] son Mercury Relationship 1 669
98 Bright Pleiad's child Mercury Matronymic Son of Maia, one of the Pleiades. A constellation standing in for a mother. 1 670
99 Jove's son Mercury Patronymic 1 673
100 Juno's guard Argus Relationship 1 678
101 Atlas' grandson Mercury Genealogy Latin Atlantiades; Maia's father is the Titan Atlas. 1 682
102 the god Mercury Generic 1 688
103 Syrinx Syrinx Name Greek syrinx, “pan-pipe.” 1 691, 705
104 the Ortygian Diana Cult site Ortygia, an older name for Delos, her birthplace. Pairs with Apollo's “the Delian lord” (455): the twins get one island under two names. 1 694
105 Latonia Diana Matronymic Daughter of Latona (Greek Leto). 1 696
106 Pan Pan Name 1 698, 705
107 the Naiad Syrinx Generic A water nymph. 1 701
108 the god Pan Generic 1 710
109 the maiden's name Syrinx Periphrasis Pan gives the reeds her name, and syrinx becomes the word for the instrument. She is never named again; the name goes to the object. Compare Daphne and “Laurel” (559). 1 712
110 Cyllenius Mercury Cult site Born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Ovid saves the most formal name for the line where he draws the sword. 1 713
111 a fearsome Fury the Furies Metonym The madness Juno inflicts on Io. 1 725
112 her [Juno's] Greek rival Io Relationship Latin paelex Argolica, “the Argive concubine.” Juno's term for her. There is no person in it. 1 726
113 you, Nile the Nile Name Ovid breaks off to address the river directly, at the end of Io's flight. 1 728
114 his [Jove's] spouse Juno Relationship 1 734
115 the nymph Io Generic 1 744
116 worshiped by a linened throng Io Periphrasis Io ends as the Egyptian goddess Isis, whose priests wore linen. The last transformation is a change of cult, not of body — and Ovid never writes “Isis.” 1 747
117 believed her son by Jove Epaphus Patronymic Latin creditur, “is believed to be.” Ovid hedges the parentage in the same breath he asserts it — which is precisely what Epaphus will not allow Phaëthon to do. 1 748
118 child of the Sun Phaëthon Patronymic Latin Sole satus. The claim the whole quarrel is about, asserted by the narrator before anyone proves it. 1 750
119 Phoebus the Sun Name Greek Phoibos, “radiant” — shared with Apollo. The one epithet in Book 1 with two owners. Phaëthon boasts that Phoebus is his father; three hundred lines earlier the same word meant Apollo. The quarrel with Epaphus turns on a name that will not resolve. 1 752
120 the heir to Inachus Epaphus Genealogy Latin Inachides; Io's son, so Inachus' grandson. 1 753
121 his [Phaëthon's] mother Clymene Relationship Clymene, now married to King Merops of Aethiopia. 1 763, 776
122 this far-flashing light the Sun Periphrasis Clymene's oath, sworn on the sun without naming him. 1 769
123 the Sun the Sun Name Latin Sol. 2 1, 31, 395
124 Mulciber Vulcan Cult title A Roman cult name for Vulcan, from mulcere, “to soften” (metal). Ovid names the smith-god by his trade, on the doors that are his work. 2 6
125 Melodious Triton Triton Attribute Latin canorus; his conch is his instrument. 2 9
126 changing Proteus Proteus Attribute Latin ambiguus — the sea-god who holds no single shape. An epithet that is also a plot summary, and in this poem a signature. 2 9
127 Doris and her daughters the Nereids Genealogy Sea-nymphs; Doris is their mother, Nereus their father. 2 11, 269
128 the son of Clymene Phaethon Matronymic Latin Clymeneia proles. Named by the mother whose word is the only evidence he has. 2 19
129 his [Phaethon's] supposed sire the Sun Relationship Latin creditus, “believed.” The doubt is built into the epithet, in the line where he arrives to settle it. 2 20
130 Phoebus the Sun Name Greek Phoibos, “radiant”; shared with Apollo. In Book 2 the ambiguity of 1.752 is fully exploited — Phoebus is the Sun here and Apollo at 545. 2 23, 36, 110, 399
131 son not to be disclaimed Phaethon Periphrasis Latin non negandus. The father settles in half a line what the boy crossed the world to ask. 2 34
132 O shared light of the wide world the Sun Periphrasis Latin lux publica mundi. Phaethon claims a private father by naming him public property. 2 35
133 his sire the Sun Relationship 2 40
134 the father the Sun Relationship 2 49, 105, 122
135 the high Olympian king Jupiter Function 2 60
136 who hurls fierce thunder with his fearful hand Jupiter Periphrasis The Sun ranks himself above Jove by the one thing Jove cannot do: drive this chariot. 2 61
137 Jove Jupiter Name From Iovis, the oblique stem of Iuppiter. 2 62, 378, 422, 437, 473, 488, 678, 697
138 Tethys Tethys Name A sea-goddess, wife of Ocean; Clymene's mother, so Phaethon's grandmother. 2 68, 156
139 Taurus' horns Taurus Metonym The constellation, named by the bull's part that matters to a driver. Ovid gives the zodiac as a bestiary rather than a set of signs — the sky is a road through animals. 2 80
140 Thessaly's bowman Sagittarius Periphrasis The constellation Sagittarius, identified with the Thessalian centaur. 2 81
141 cruel Leo's maw Leo Attribute 2 81
142 watchful Dawn Aurora Attribute Latin vigil Aurora. 2 112, 144
143 their lord, the Morning Star Lucifer Function Latin Lucifer, the last star to quit the sky. Ovid makes the morning star the commander of a retreat. 2 114–15
144 the Titan the Sun Metonym The Sun is son of the Titan Hyperion; the race stands for the individual. The same name as at 1.11 — where there was not yet a sun for it to mean. 2 118
145 the North Wind's nearby Bears the Bears Periphrasis Ursa Major and Minor, which never set. 2 132
146 the coiling Snake Draco Attribute The constellation Draco, by the icy pole. 2 138, 174
147 the Altar Ara Periphrasis The constellation Ara. 2 139
148 Fortune Fortune Metonym The goddess standing in for the outcome. The Sun's last word of advice is to name a goddess he cannot control. 2 141
149 Pyroïs, Aethon, Eoüs and Phlegon the Sun's horses Name “Fiery,” “Scorch,” “Dawn” and “Flame.” Four names that are nothing but description — and Phaethon still cannot remember them (193). 2 153–54
150 mindless to her grandson's fate Tethys Relationship She opens the gates herself; the epithet supplies the dramatic irony. 2 156
151 the Sun-god's steeds the Sun Relationship 2 161
152 the Oxen the Bears Metonym Latin Triones, the plough-oxen — Ursa Major read as a wagon team. 2 172, 528
153 slow and plow-encumbered Boötes Attribute A northern constellation figured as a ploughman. 2 177–78
154 Poor Phaethon Phaethon Attribute 2 179
155 Merops' son Phaethon Patronymic Merops, Clymene's mortal husband and Phaethon's putative father. The name he refused at 1.764 is the one he now longs for. 2 185
156 the Moon ... her brother's steeds Diana Relationship Latin Luna; Ovid uses Luna, Phoebe and Diana for one goddess. 2 208
157 old Peneus Peneus Attribute 2 242
158 Thrace's Til Melas Name A river of Mygdonia in Thrace. The Latin is Mygdonius Melas, “the Mygdonian Melas”; melas is Greek for black. Not attested elsewhere as a name for the Melas, and Soucy gives it no note. The line needs a monosyllable to close on, which “Melas” is not. 2 247
159 its queen and king [of Hell] Dis and Proserpina Periphrasis Dis and Proserpina, unnamed. 2 261
160 Nereus himself Nereus Name An old sea-god, father of the Nereids. At 1.187 the name stood for the sea; here he is a person who hides in a cave. 2 268
161 Neptune Neptune Name 2 270
162 kindly Earth Earth Attribute Latin alma Tellus, “nourishing.” 2 272
163 O lord of gods Jupiter Function 2 282
164 your [Jupiter's] brother Neptune Relationship Earth pleads for the sea by naming its god only as Jupiter's relation — the same move as 1.275. 2 291
165 Atlas ... scarce shouldering the glowing vault Atlas Function 2 296–97
166 ancient Chaos Chaos Attribute The unformed mass of 1.8. 2 299
167 the Almighty Father Jupiter Attribute Latin pater omnipotens. 2 304
168 the charioteer Phaethon Function He is named by the job only at the instant he is killed for it. 2 312
169 long Eridanus Eridanus Attribute A western river, taken for the Po. 2 324
170 the Heliads the Heliads Genealogy “Daughters of Helios” — Clymene's daughters, Phaethon's sisters. 2 340
171 the son of Sthenelus Cygnus Patronymic 2 367
172 the unkempt sire of Phaethon the Sun Relationship Latin squalidus, unwashed and unkempt in mourning. Grief rendered as a lapse of grooming, for the god whose whole business is brightness. 2 382
173 Jupiter Jupiter Name The nominative Latin name. 2 397, 444, 744
174 the Almighty Jupiter Attribute Latin omnipotens. 2 402, 505
175 a girl Callisto Generic 2 410
176 Phoebe Diana Name Feminine of Phoibos; also the moon itself. 2 415, 723
177 Trivia Diana Cult title Guardian of the three-way crossroads (Latin trivia). 2 416
178 the guardless girl Callisto Attribute 2 422
179 my [Jove's] wife Juno Relationship 2 423
180 Diana Diana Name Jupiter's disguise: he rapes Callisto wearing the face of the goddess she serves. 2 425, 451
181 Saturnia Juno Patronymic Daughter of Saturn. 2 435, 532
182 Dictynna Diana Cult title A Cretan hunting goddess, here syncretized with Diana. 2 441
183 the goddess Diana Generic 2 449, 455
184 her brother's rays Diana Relationship The Sun's; Diana and Apollo are twins. 2 454
185 Parrhasis Callisto Cult site “The Parrhasian girl” — Parrhasia, a district of Arcadia. 2 460
186 Cynthia Diana Cult site Born on Mount Cynthus, on Delos. Four names in fifty lines — Phoebe, Trivia, Dictynna, Cynthia — one for each way of being the same goddess. 2 464
187 the Thunderer's wife Juno Relationship Latin Tonantis coniunx. She is named by the husband whose affair she is about to punish. 2 466
188 her [Juno's] rival Callisto Relationship Latin paelex, the same word used of Io at 1.726. 2 468, 508
189 Juno Juno Name 2 469, 518, 525
190 Adulteress Callisto Attribute Juno's word for the woman Jupiter raped. 2 471
191 Lycaön's grandson Arcas Genealogy Callisto is the daughter of the Lycaon of Book 1. Book 1's wolf turns out to be her father — “she feared wolves, though her father then was one” (495). 2 496
192 white-haired Tethys Tethys Attribute 2 509
193 the old Ocean, whom the gods revere Ocean Attribute 2 510
194 the queen of heaven Juno Function Latin regina deorum. 2 512
195 Greek Phoronides Io Genealogy Sister of Phoroneus, an early king of Argos. The same formation as Phoronis at 1.669, and Juno's proof that Jupiter restores the women he ruins. 2 524
196 that concubine Callisto Attribute 2 530
197 gabbling Raven the Raven Attribute Latin garrule. Addressed in the second person, and convicted by the epithet before the story starts. 2 534
198 Coronis of Larissa Coronis Cult site Larissa, a city of Thessaly. 2 543
199 the Delphic one Apollo Cult site Latin Delphicus; Delphi is his oracle. 2 544, 677
200 Phoebus' fowl the Raven Relationship 2 545
201 a hard informer the Raven Function 2 546
202 his [the raven's] lord Apollo Relationship 2 547, 598
203 a nosy Crow the Crow Attribute 2 547
204 Pallas Minerva Name A standing Greek name for Athena, of disputed sense. 2 552, 567, 714
205 whom no mother bore Erichthonius Periphrasis Born of Vulcan's seed and the earth, without a mother. 2 553
206 two-formed Cecrops Cecrops Attribute Half man, half serpent — the first king of Athens. 2 555
207 the goddess Minerva Generic 2 562, 760, 773, 788
208 Minerva Minerva Name The Latin name. 2 563, 587, 710, 749, 787
209 the Owl Nyctimene Metonym Nyctimene, turned owl for her incest. 2 564
210 born to famed Coroneus of Phocis the Crow Patronymic 2 569–70
211 the sea god Neptune Generic 2 574
212 a virgin goddess Minerva Attribute 2 579
213 Minerva's blameless aide the Crow Relationship 2 588
214 made fowl for her foul sins Nyctimene Periphrasis 2 590
215 the lover Apollo Relationship Ovid switches to this name at the moment Apollo kills the woman it refers to. 2 600, 613
216 the god Apollo Generic 2 601
217 his vain healer's arts Apollo Function Apollo as god of medicine, as at 1.523. The healer's art fails him again, and this time he is the one who caused the wound. 2 618
218 the seed of Phoebus Asclepius Patronymic 2 628
219 two-formed Chiron Chiron Attribute Half man, half horse; the same phrase used of Cecrops at 555. 2 630
220 the half-breed Chiron Attribute Latin semifer, “half-beast.” 2 633
221 the child of heaven Asclepius Genealogy 2 633
222 the centaur's daughter Ocyrhoë Patronymic 2 636
223 Ocyrhoë Ocyrhoë Name “Swift-flowing,” for the stream she was born beside. Named for a river, and turned into a mare — neither the name nor the shape is hers to keep. 2 638
224 Healer of the world Asclepius Function 2 642
225 your [Asclepius'] grandsire Jupiter Relationship Apollo's father, so the child's grandfather. The thunderbolt is named by the family tie of the man it will kill. 2 646
226 the threefold goddesses the Fates Periphrasis The three Parcae, who spin, measure and cut. 2 654
227 the monstrous marvel Ocyrhoë Periphrasis 2 675
228 Philyra's heroic son Chiron Matronymic Philyra, an Oceanid, bore Chiron to Saturn. 2 676
229 Atlas' daughter Maia's son Mercury Matronymic Maia, one of the Pleiades. At 1.670 Ovid gave the mother as a star; here he spells the descent out in full. 2 685
230 the god Mercury Generic 2 691
231 Jove's son Mercury Patronymic 2 697, 726
232 country clod Battus Attribute Mercury's address to him. 2 699
233 the elder Battus Attribute 2 702
234 Atlas' grandson Mercury Genealogy Latin Atlantiades. 2 704
235 the informer Battus Function Latin index; the stone still carries the name. He is punished into the thing he was — a stone that tells. 2 707
236 the bearer of Caduceus Mercury Attribute The herald's staff of 1.672. 2 709
237 the wingèd god Mercury Attribute 2 715
238 Cyllenius Mercury Cult site Born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. 2 720, 818
239 the Morning-Star Lucifer Function 2 722
240 Phoebe's golden glow Diana Metonym The moon, named by the goddess. 2 723
241 the left-side sister Aglauros Relationship 2 740
242 Mercury Mercury Name The Latin name, used once in Book 2. Ovid gives him nine other names and this one only when a mortal asks for it outright. 2 741
243 born unto Atlas' child with Pleione Mercury Periphrasis Maia, daughter of Atlas and Pleione. His own answer to that question — a genealogy where a name was asked for. 2 742
244 blonde Minerva Minerva Attribute Latin flava. 2 749
245 the warrior goddess Minerva Function 2 752
246 the Lemnian child Erichthonius Cult site His father Vulcan kept his forge on Lemnos. 2 756
247 Envy Envy Name Latin Invidia, personified. 2 761, 770
248 the fearsome maid of war Minerva Function 2 765
249 the creature Envy Generic 2 772
250 Tritonia Minerva Cult site Born near Lake Triton in Libya. 2 782, 794
251 the child of Cecrops Aglauros Genealogy 2 784, 797, 805–06
252 the monster Envy Generic 2 787
253 the heir of Atlas Mercury Genealogy 2 834
254 my loyal son Mercury Relationship Jupiter's address, while sending him to procure Europa. 2 837
255 the princess Europa Function 2 845, 868
256 the lord and father of the gods, who wields the tri-forked flame, whose nods shake earth Jupiter Periphrasis Ovid piles up the full imperial titulature in the two lines before Jupiter turns himself into a bull. 2 848–49
257 Agenor's child Europa Patronymic Agenor, king of Tyre. 2 858
258 his spoils Europa Relationship Latin praeda, “plunder.” The last word on her in Book 2 is a word for property. 2 873

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