pasiphae
Definition
Proper noun 1. A figure in Greek mythology: Pasiphaë is the daughter of the sun god Helios and the Oceanid Perse (or Crete). She is the wife of King Minos of Crete and the mother of several children, including Ariadne, Phaedra, Androgeus, and the Minotaur.
Usage
- Pasiphaë is primarily used in the context of classical mythology, literature, and art.
- She is a central figure in the myth of the Minotaur, as its mother.
Examples
- In the myth, Pasiphaë was cursed by Poseidon to fall in love with a bull, which led to the birth of the Minotaur.
- The story of Pasiphaë has been a subject for many artists and writers throughout history.
- Pasiphaë is often depicted as a tragic figure, a victim of divine punishment.
Advanced Usage
- As a symbol: In psychoanalytic and literary criticism, Pasiphaë is sometimes analyzed as a symbol of unnatural desire, divine retribution, or the blurring of boundaries between human and beast.
Variants and Related Words
- Pasiphaë is the most common transliteration, often written with a dieresis (ë) to indicate the separate pronunciation of the vowels.
- Pasiphae is an alternative, simplified spelling.
Different Meanings
- There are no common, distinct modern meanings for this word outside of its mythological context. It refers exclusively to the mythological character.
Synonyms
- There are no direct synonyms, as it is a proper name. In mythological summaries, she might be described as "the wife of Minos" or "the mother of the Minotaur."
Idioms / Phrases
- There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs derived from this proper noun.
Noun
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(Greek mythology) daughter of Helios and mother of Ariadne
