Paris and Oenone

In Greek mythology, Oenone (Greek : Οινώνη) ("wine woman") was the first wife of Paris.

She was a mountain nymph (an Oread) on Mount Ida in Phrygia, a mountain associated with the Mother Goddess Cybele. Her father was Cebren, a river-god. Her very name links her to the natural but civilizing gift of wine.

The Trojan prince Paris fell in love with her when he was still a shepherd on the slopes of Mount Ida. They married and Oenone gave birth to a son, Corythus. When Paris later abandoned her to return to Troy and sail across the Aegean to kidnap Helen, Queen of Sparta, Oenone predicted the Trojan War.

Out of revenge for Paris' treason, she sent Corythus to guide the Greeks to Troy. Another version has it that she used her son to drive a rift between Paris and Helen and Paris, not recognizing his own son, killed him.

When Paris was mortally wounded by Philoctetes' arrow, he begged Oenone to heal him, but she refused and Paris died. Overcome with guilt, she threw herself onto his burning funeral pyre.

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Oenone was also the name of an island, which was later named after Aegina, daughter of the river god Asopus.

Greek Mythology

See also : Greek Mythology. Paintings, Drawings

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