Praxithea

In Greek mythology, Praxithea (/ˌpræɡˈzɪθiə/; Ancient Greek: Πραξιθέα) was a name attributed to five women.

• Praxithea, a Naiad nymph. According to the Bibliotheca Praxithea married Erichthonius of Athens and by him had a son named Pandion I. Praxithea's sister Zeuxippe married her nephew Pandion, and to them were born Erechtheus, Butes, Procne and Philomela.[1]
• Praxithea, daughter of Phrasimus and Diogeneia, daughter of the river-god Cephissus. She married Erechtheus and bore him Cecrops, Pandorus, Metion, Thespius, Eupalamus, Sicyon, Orneus, Procris, Creusa, Merope, Chthonia, Orithyia, Pandora and Protogeneia.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
• Praxithea, the woman that cried out when she saw Demeter holding Metanira's son Demophon in the fires, thus preventing him from becoming immortal.[10]
• Praxithea (or Phrasithea), daughter of Leos. Along with her sisters, Theope and Eubule, she sacrificed herself in order to save Athens. In another version, their father was the one who offered them up to sacrifice.[11]
• Praxithea, one of the fifty daughters of Thespius and Megamede. She bore Heracles a son, Nephus.[12]

For the genus of beetles, see Praxithea (beetle).

Notes

1. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 3. 14. 8
2. Apollodorus. The Library, 3.15.1.
3. Diodorus Siculus. Library of History, 4.29.
4. Diodorus Siculus. Library of History, 4.76.1.
5. Pausanias. Description of Greece, 2.6.5.
6. Pausanias. Description of Greece, 2.25.6.
7. Plutarch. Life of Theseus, 5.
8. Theoi Project - Praxithea, naiad nymph of Athens in Attica
9. Suda s. v. παρθένοι
10. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 1.5.1.
11. Theoi Project - Apollodorus
12. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca, 2.7.8.

References

• Pseudo-Apollodorus, 1921. Apollodorus, The Library (English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd) (Perseus).
• James, Vanessa, 2003. The Genealogy of Greek Mythology. Penguin Group (USA) Inc.