Pirene

Role: mythic woman · First appears: Book 2 · Chapter 2

In Book 2, Chapter 2, Pirene is said to be the daughter of Achelous, though Hesiod’s poem gives Œbalus as her father. With Poseidon, she was reputed to have sons Leches and Cenchrias. In Chapter 3, after Artemis killed Cenchrias, Pirene became a well from her tears of mourning. Chapter 24 also names Cenchreus as her son.

Relationship record

Life events

• Pirene becomes a well while mourning Cenchrias, whom Artemis killed.(Book 2 · Chapter 3)
  • With: Cenchrias Artemis
  • “They say that Pirene became a well from a woman through the tears she shed, bewailing the death of her son Cenchrias at the hands of Artemis.”

Book 2 · Chapter 2

• child: Leches (Pirene is reputed to be the mother of Leches.) “The Corinthian seaports got their names from Leches and Cenchrias, who were reputed to be the sons of Poseidon by Pirene the daughter of Achelous: though in Hesiod’s poem the great Eœæ Pirene is said to be the daughter of Œbalus.”
• child: Cenchrias (Pirene is reputed to be the mother of Cenchrias.) “The Corinthian seaports got their names from Leches and Cenchrias, who were reputed to be the sons of Poseidon by Pirene the daughter of Achelous: though in Hesiod’s poem the great Eœæ Pirene is said to be the daughter of Œbalus.”
• parent: Achelous (Achelous is identified as Pirene’s father.) “The Corinthian seaports got their names from Leches and Cenchrias, who were reputed to be the sons of Poseidon by Pirene the daughter of Achelous: though in Hesiod’s poem the great Eœæ Pirene is said to be the daughter of Œbalus.”
• parent: Œbalus (An alternative tradition identifies Œbalus as Pirene’s father.) “The Corinthian seaports got their names from Leches and Cenchrias, who were reputed to be the sons of Poseidon by Pirene the daughter of Achelous: though in Hesiod’s poem the great Eœæ Pirene is said to be the daughter of Œbalus.”

Book 2 · Chapter 3

• child: Cenchrias “They say that Pirene became a well from a woman through the tears she shed, bewailing the death of her son Cenchrias at the hands of Artemis.”

Book 2 · Chapter 24

• child: Cenchreus (Pirene is Cenchreus's mother.) “except the name came from Cenchreus the son of Pirene.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.