Praxithea

Praxithea

In Greek mythology, Praxithea was a name given to five different figures.

One of them was a Naiad nymph, a nymph of the rivers and lakes. She was married to King Erichthonius of Athens, and they had a son, Pandion I.

Another Praxithea was the daughter of Phrasimus and Diogeneia. She was the wife of Erechtheus, with whom she had a number of children, including Cecrops, Pandorus, Metion, Procris and Merope.

A third woman by the same name was a maid of Metanira, wife of Celeus. When the goddess Demeter, disguised as the old woman Doso, tried to turn Metanira's son Demophon to an immortal by burning his flesh in the hearth, it was Praxithea who found them and started screaming, thus interrupting the ritual.

A different Praxithea was one of the daughters of Leos, the others being Theope and Eubule. The three sisters sacrificed themselves to save the city of Athens.

Finally, the fifth mythological figure with the same name was one of the fifty daughters of Thespius and Megamede, who married Heracles and had a son together, Nephus.

See Also: Erichthonius, Pandion I, Erechtheus, Cecrops, Procris, Metanira, Celeus, Demeter, Doso, Demophon, Heracles

Praxithea Q&A

Who was Praxithea?

In Greek mythology, Praxithea was a name given to five different figures. One of them was a Naiad nymph, a nymph of the rivers and lakes.

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