Astymedusa

In Greek mythology, Astymedusa (Ancient Greek: Ἀστυμέδουσα, Astymédousa) is a Mycenaean princess as daughter of King Sthenelus and Nicippe, daughter of Pelops.

She was occasionally named as a later wife of Oedipus. After parting with Jocasta or after the death of Euryganeia, who was his second wife,[1] Oedipus married Astymedousa.[2] Astymedusa accused Polynices and Eteocles of attempting to rape her, thus driving Oedipus into a frenzy.[3] This is held as an alternate cause for the curse which led to the fraternal discord at the heart of the myth of the wars at Thebes.[4]
Notes

Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio 9.5.11; cf. Watson (1994, p. 237).
The Scholia to Iliad 4.376 places the union following Oedipus' discovery that Jocasta was his mother; the marriage took place following Euryganeia's death according to the scholia to Euripides, Phoenissae 53 (citing Pherecydes, FGrHist 3 F 48).
Eustathius on Homer, Iliad 4.376–81 (vol. i, p. 767) .

Watson (1994, p. 237).

References

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.

Bibliography

Watson, P.A. (1994), Ancient Stepmothers: Myth, Misogyny and Reality, Leiden, ISBN 9004101764.

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Oedipus
Titles and lineage

Theban kings in Greek mythology Laius (biological father) Polybus of Corinth (adoptive father) Merope (adoptive mother) Jocasta/Epicaste (biological mother/wife) Creon (Jocasta's brother/Laius' successor) Antigone (half sister/daughter) Eteocles (half brother/son) Polynices (half brother/son) Ismene (half sister/daughter) Euryganeia (2nd wife) Astymedusa (later wife)

Theban plays
Antiquity

Aeschylus:
Seven Against Thebes Sophocles:
Antigone Oedipus Rex Oedipus at Colonus Euripides:
Antigone Oedipus The Phoenician Women Seneca:
Oedipus

Other (Oedipus)

Oedipus (Dryden & Lee) Oedipus (Voltaire) The Infernal Machine Greek The Gospel at Colonus

Other (Antigone)

Antigone (Cocteau) Antigone (Anouilh) The Burial at Thebes

Operas

Antigona (Mysliveček) Antigona (Traetta) Œdipe à Colone Oedipus rex Œdipe Greek

Films

Oedipus Rex (1957) Antigone (1961) Oedipus Rex (1967) Oedipus the King (1968) Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) Night Warning (1982) Voyager (1991) Oedipus Mayor (1996)

Other works

Oedipodea Thebaid Theban Cycle Lille Stesichorus The Gods Are Not to Blame Oedipus Tex

Related

Oedipus complex Electra complex Feminism and the Oedipus complex Hamlet and Oedipus Jocasta complex Phaedra complex

Greek Mythology

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