NYX (Aeschyluls Eumenides 321, Lycophron 432, Virgil Aeneid 6.250, Ovid Metamorphoses 4.453) GAIA by the blood of OURANOS (Hesiod Theogony 176, Bacchylides Frag 52) The sisters wielded whips and were clothed either in the long black robes of mourners, or the short-length skirts and boots of huntress- maidens. They were depicted as ugly, winged women with hair, arms and waists entwined with poisonous serpents. The Erinyes were similar to if not the same as the Poinai (Poenae) (Retaliations), Arai (Arae) (Curses), Praxidikai (Praxidicae) (Exacters of Justice) and Maniai (Maniae) (Madnesses). The goddesses were also servants of Haides and Persephone in the underworld where they oversaw the torture of criminals consigned to the Dungeons of the Damned.

The wrath of the Erinyes could only be placated with the rite ritual purification and the completion of some task assigned for atonement.

Murderers might suffer illness or disease and a nation harbouring such a criminal, could suffer dearth, and with it hunger and disease. The most severe of these was the tormenting madness inflicted upon a patricide or matricide. The wrath of the Erinyes manifested itself in a number of ways. The most powerful of these was the curse of the parent upon the child-for the Erinyes were born of just such a crime, being sprung from the blood of Ouranos (Uranus), when he was castrated by his son Kronos (Cronus). A victim seeking justice could call down the curse of the Erinys upon the criminal. They were particularly concerned with homicide, unfilial conduct, offenses against the gods, and perjury. THE ERINYES (Furies) were three goddesses of vengeance and retribution who punished men for crimes against the natural order. Dark, Murky? ( eêroeis) Erinyes, Apulian red-figure krater C4th B.C., Badische Landesmuseum

Sisyphus pronunciation