InGreek mythology,Harpalyce (/hɑːrˈpæləsiː/;Ancient Greek:Ἁρπαλύκη,romanized: Harpalúkē) is a Peloponnesian princess from eitherArgos orArcadia, daughter of KingClymenus. Clymenus desired and raped Harpalyce, who then avenged herself by making him unwittingly feast on his own blood. Her tale shares elements with that ofTereus andProcne.
Harpalyce was the daughter ofClymenus, by a woman namedEpicasta; she also had two brothers,Idas andTherager.[1] She became the mother of an unnamed son.
In one version of the tale, set inArcadia, Harpalyce was desired by her incestuous father Clymenus, who ended up raping her.[2] As a result, Harpalyce conceived and gave birth to a son. She took revenge against her impious father by killing her son,[3] and then secretly feeding him to Clymenus during a banquet.[4][5] When Clymenus found out the truth, he killed Harpalyce.[6]
In another version, set inArgos, Harpalyce was betrothed toAlastor, but nevertheless her father Clymenus delevoped an ardent passion for her.[7] For some time he managed to restrain himself, but in the end he employed a slave nurse to inform Harpalyce, and the two embarked on a secret affair.[8] Alastor however came to finally wed her and took her away, with Clymenus’ consent.[8] But Clymenus then hurried after them, halted them, seized Harpalyce and returned with her to Argos, where he openly lived with her as his wife.[9]
Harpalyce resented the cruel and vicious treatment she was receiving from Clymenus, so during a festival she cut down her younger brother, who was calledPresbon,[10] and served him to Clymenus during the banquet.[11][12] She then prayed to the gods to be taken away from mankind, and the gods answered by transforming her into a chalkis bird (a type of owl).[1][13]
Jupiter's irregular moonHarpalyke (also known as Jupiter XXII) was named after this mythological figure.[14]
Other mythological women who killed brothers or sons include:
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