Euphrosyne


Euphrosyne, in ancient Greek religion and mythology, was one of the Charites, known in ancient Rome as the Gratiae. She was sometimes called Euthymia or Eutychia.

Greek mythology

Euphrosyne is a Goddess of Good Cheer, Joy and Mirth. Her name is the female version of a Greek word euphrosynos, which means "merriment". The Greek poet Pindar states that these goddesses were created to fill the world with pleasant moments and good will. Usually the Charites attended the goddess of beauty Aphrodite.
According to Hesiod, Euphrosyne and her sisters Thalia and Aglaea were daughters of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. Alternative parentage may be Zeus and Eurydome, Eurymedousa, or Euanthe; Dionysus and Kronois; or Helios and the Naiad Aegle.
In art, Euphrosyne is usually depicted with her sisters dancing.

In art and literature

She is depicted with the other two Graces at the left of the painting in Botticelli's Primavera. The sculptor Antonio Canova made a well-known piece in white marble representing the three Graces, in several copies including one for John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford.
Joshua Reynolds painted Mrs. Mary Hale, wife of General John Hale, as Euphrosyne in 1766.
John Milton invoked her in the poem L'Allegro., Russia

Cults of Euphrosyne

Euphrosyne and her sisters' main cult was located in Athens, Sparta, or Boetia.

In science

The asteroid 31 Euphrosyne is named after the goddess, as is the Euphrosinidae family of marine worms.