Eriphyle was the daughter of Talaüs and Lysimache. She was killed by her son, Alcmaeon, after she had been bribed by
Polynices to send her husband Amphiaraüs to his
death with the
Seven Against Thebes. This was as a result of Eriphyle having become the arbiter between Amphiaraüs and her brother Adrastus.
From this family dissension springs her name, meaning 'strife producer', from eris, 'strife' and phyo, 'to produce'. True, we could make her name mean 'many leaves' (eri-, 'many' and phyllon, 'leaf), referring to some ritual or
fertility rite, but this would be more speculative than suitable.
