Harpy

In early Greek mythology, a wind spirit; in later legend, such as the story of the Argonauts, a female monster with a horrific face, pale with hunger, and the body of a vulture. Often associated with the underworld, harpies were believed to abduct those people who disappeared without trace, and were perceived as an instrument of torment used by the gods.

In one incident, they carried off the daughters of Pandareos and gave them to the Furies as servants. Pandareos had displeased the gods by giving their golden dog to the disreputable Tantalus, a son of Zeus; Tantalus denied all knowledge of the gift. The event is depicted on the Harpy Tomb from Xanthus, Lycia, now in the British Museum, London.

Individual harpies Although their number was never stated, some Harpies were named. According to Homer, Podarge gave birth to the horses of the hero Achilles. Later the poet Hesiod, described the Harpies Aello and Ocypete as the daughters of Thaumas. Neither of these early poets depicted the Harpies as repellant.

By the time of the Roman poet Virgil, the Harpies were established as monstrous creatures; he named one Celaeno and placed them in the Strophades.