Stygian

Estigia, by Mexican artist Antonio García Vega.

In Greek mythology, Stygia or Estix also Estige or Estige (in Greek ancient Στύξ Stýx) was an Oceanid, daughter of Oceanus and Thetis or, according to Hyginus, a goddess daughter of Erebus (darkness) and Nix (night). She personified a river from Hades (the Greek underworld) - the River Styx.

Myth

The Styx presided over a fountain in Arcadia whose course ended in hell. Hesiod affirms that she was the greatest and most respected of the Oceanids. She had four children with Pallas: Nike, Cratos, Zelo and Bía (sometimes, it is said that also from Eos or Selene). To this list Hyginus adds the monster Scylla. Other authors, such as Apollodorus, even consider Persephone the daughter of Styx and Zeus, instead of considering her the daughter of Demeter, and stating that she was always the goddess of the underworld. Pausanias states that she also mothered Echidna with Peiras.

During the Titanomachy (or war of the Olympians with the Titans) Styx followed her father's advice and was the first among the immortals to offer her aid to Zeus. As a reward, he showered her with honours, received her children in her retinue and made her name sacred, the gods taking her most solemn oaths for him. When a god swore an oath in her name, Iris would fill a golden cup with her water. Whoever abjured drank this water, losing his voice and breathing for a Great Year, that is, nine years, and was excluded another nine from the meetings and banquets of the gods.

Zeus himself swore to give Semele whatever she asked for and thus he was forced to show himself in all his splendor, provoking the rays that his irremediable death gave off. Helios also swore to Phaethon whatever he wanted, and he asked to drive his chariot, which would ultimately end his life. It was said that the Aloadas broke an oath taken by Stygia and had to accept an exemplary punishment: to remain united behind their backs forever, in the wind and the darkness.

Etymology

Estix (ancient Greek, Στύξ; romanization, Stýx; pronunciation, classical: [stʉ́kʰs] Koine: [stykʰs] Byzantine: [styks]; meaning: 'from the verb στυγέω (Stygéô) to hate, detest')

Fonts

• Pseudo-Apolodoro: Mythological LibraryI, 2, 2 - 5; I, 3, 1.
  • English text, with electronic index, in the Perseus Project; ed. of 1921 by James Frazer: 2; 3; 4; 5. At the top right are the active labels "focus"(to change the Greek text) and "load" (for the bilingual text).
    • Greek text on Wikisource.
• French text.
  • English text in the Perseus Project, with the characteristics indicated above.
    • Greek text on Wikisource.