Oenone in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Oenone

5 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Oenone, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Oenone is an Oread nymph in Greek mythology, known as the first wife of Paris and renowned for her gift of healing. For the story in one place, read our article on Oenone.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 3.12.1–7Dardanus, Priam and the royal house of TroyElectra's son Dardanus founds the line of the Trojan kings through Erichthonius and Tros, to Ganymede, Anchises and Ilus. Ilus founds Ilium on the spot where the cow lies down and receives the Palladium, and Laomedon and Priam follow him, with Tithonus and Memnon among Laomedon's line. The section lists Priam's children, including Hecuba's dream before Paris's birth, Cassandra's gift, and Paris and Oenone, and ends with the sons of Aeacus, Peleus and Telamon, the murder of Phocus and the birth of Ajax and Teucer.

Quintus Smyrnaeus (2)

Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 10.411–489The death of OenoneOenone alone grieves truly. She repents her hatred, slips out at night and runs over the mountain to Paris' pyre, where the moon lights her way. She leaps on to the flames, and the Nymphs marvel at her. Their ashes are buried together, with pillars that turn away from each other.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy (Posthomerica) 10.203–331Philoctetes wounds ParisParis shoots at Philoctetes and misses, and Philoctetes shoots back, wounding him with the second arrow. Paris is told that only Oenone can heal him and goes to her on Ida. She mocks him, refuses, and drives him from her door.

Parthenius of Nicaea (2)

Parthenius of Nicaea, Love Romances 3.1–4.5Odysseus and Evippe; Alexander and OenoneOdysseus seduces Evippe in Epirus, and their son Euryalus is killed at Ithaca when Penelope persuades Odysseus that he is a plotter; Odysseus himself later dies of a wound from his own offspring. Oenone, who lives with Alexander (Paris) on Mount Ida, foretells that he will leave her and that only she can cure him. When he is wounded by an arrow of Philoctetes she answers him haughtily, and he dies before she arrives, and she kills herself.
Parthenius of Nicaea, Love Romances 33.1–36.6Assaon and Niobe; Corythus; Eulimene and Lycastus; Arganthone and RhesusIn one version of the Niobe story her father Assaon burns her children when she refuses him; she throws herself from a rock, and he kills himself. Corythus comes to Troy, falls in love with Helen and is killed by his father. Lycastus, lover of Eulimene, confesses when the lot falls on her to be sacrificed, and Apterus murders him. Arganthone loves Rhesus, who goes to the Trojan war and is killed, and she wanders calling his name until she dies of grief.