Erginus

Erginus was the son of Clymenus, king of the Minyans of Orchomenus in Boeotia. Another Erginus was one of the Argonauts, usually regarded as the son of Poseidon. The name may derive from eirgo, 'to confine', although in what sense is not clear. Perhaps it is a militant name for one who will capture prisoners.

Eriboea

Eriboea was the second wife of Alöeus. It was also another name for Periboea, the daughter of Alcathoüs. It seems to be a propitious name, meaning 'one who has much cattle', from eri, 'much' and bous, 'ox'. It could also derive from eri, 'much' and bosco, 'to feed', 'pasture', which is almost the same thing.

Erichthonius

Erichthonius was both the name of an early king of Athens described as the son of Hephaestus and that of the son of Dardanus and Batia who married Astyoche and was the father of Tros. For the first Erichthonius there are several popular origins.

One is to derive his name from eris, 'strife' and chthon, 'earth' with reference to the strife between his father Hephaestus and Athena: the story went that Hephaestus embraced Athena and made to possess her but she pushed him away and his semen fell on the earth.

According to another version of this incident Hephaestus ejaculated against Athena's thigh when she pushed him away and in disgust she wiped off the semen with a piece of wool (erion), which she then threw to the ground (chthon).

Another explanation of his name derives it from eri, 'very', 'much' and chthon 'earth' in the sense 'plentiful land', a suitable name for a king. But perhaps his name is really just an expanded form of Erechtheus. The two are sometimes confused. The second Erichthonius above was reputed to be very wealthy and to own three thousand mares: for him the 'plentiful land' definition seems best.

Erigone

Erigone was the name of the daughter of Icarius and also the daughter of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra. The name could mean 'child of strife', from eris, 'strife' and gonos, 'child', 'offspring', or 'much offspring', from eri-, 'very', 'much' and the same gonos.

For Icarius' daughter, at least, the first interpretation would be fitting since she hanged herself and prayed that all the daughter of Athens should do likewise. The second Erigone does not seem to merit either version, so we must perhaps settle for the propitious 'plentiful offspring' meaning for her.

There is no record of this being fulfilled. But possibly another meaning altogether could be appropriate. One alternative is 'born in spring', from ear, 'spring' and gonos, 'child'. A spring child is clearly one born at a propitious and fruitful time.

Erinyes

Erinyes was the Greek name for the Furies, the female spirits of justice and vengeance. The derivation of the word is uncertain, although Hesiod claimed it meant 'the strong ones', presumably from the root eri, 'very', 'much'.

Other conjectures have been elinuo, 'to rest', 'sleep' - hardly appropriate for angry beings seeking vengeance - and even the ingenious en era naiein, 'dwelling in the earth'. The Erinyes were said to have been born when the blood of the castrated Uranus fell on to Gaia, the earth.

Eriopis

Eriopis was probably the name of the daughter of Arsinoë or, according to some writers, of the daughter of Jason and Medea. If we take the eri- again as 'very', 'much', then we can try a meaning of either 'large-eyed' (from ops, 'eye') or 'very rich' (from pion, 'rich'). The former could suggest a gentle attractiveness, the latter be highly propitious.

Eripha

Eripha was the name of a mare that belonged to Marmax, the first of the many suitors of Hippodamia (notice her 'mare' name, incidentally). Another mare who belonged to Marmax was Parthenia, and both poor horses were killed, together with their master, by Oenomaüs, who was systematically disposing of Hippodamia's suitors as he wanted her for himself. (Strangely, Oenomaüs was said to be fond of horses . . . ) Eripha's name means 'kid', 'young goat' (eriphos), which seems somewhat out of place.

Eriphyle

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.

Eris

Eris was, as her name clearly indicates, the goddess of discord (eris). According to Hesiod she was the daughter of Nyx. She is famous for her part in the marriage of Peleus and Thetis: at the gathering she threw a golden apple inscribed 'for the fairest' among those present.

Zeus suggested that the three goddesses who claimed the title, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, should ask Paris to decide who was the rightful winner. Aphrodite was selected, and this was one of the main causes of the Trojan War. The apple was the proverbial 'apple of discord'. The Roman equivalent goddess was named, predictably, Discordia.

Eros

Eros was, of course, the god of love, corresponding to the Roman Amor or Cupid. Hesiod said he was born out of Chaos, together with Tartarus and Gaia. The Greek word eros specifies erotic (i.e. sexual) love.