Iynx

A nymph of Arcadia, a daughter of Peitho and Pan, or of Echo. She endeavored to charm Zeus, or make him, by magic means, fall in love with Io; in consequence of which Hera metamorphosed her into the bird called iynx (iynx torquilla).1 This bird, the symbol of passionate and restless love, was given by Aphrodite to Jason, who, by turning it round and pronouncing certain magic words, excited the love of Medea.2

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The word "jinx" is possibly derived from this bird, which was used in divination and magic.

References

Notes

  1. Scholiast on Theocritus, ii, 17; on Pindar's Pythian Odes iv, 380; on Nemean Odes iv, 56; Tzetzes on Lycophron, 310.
  2. Pindar. Pythian Odes iv, 380 ff.; Tzetzes, l.c.

Source

  • Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.

This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain.