Epicaste

Epicaste was the name Homer used for Jocasta. It is not clear what it means: perhaps it comes from a word formed from epi, 'before' and cazo (in the form cosmeo), 'to adorn' (compare Castor). This could mean 'fore-adorned', with reference to her name being changed to Jocasta (the Greek form is locaste) when her fate changed. Robert Graves impressively suggests that the meaning could be 'upsetting over', with the name being a worn-down form of epicatastrephomene.

Epidaurus

Epidaurus was the man who gave his name to the city so called on the east coast of Argolis. He was the son of Argus and Evadne (or else the son of Pelops or Apollo), and his name rather strangely seems to mean 'with shaggy hair', from apt, 'over', 'with' and daulos, 'shaggy'. There is nothing in any story about him to justify this. Perhaps being hirsute (like Samson) could signify strength.

Epigoni

Epigoni was the title, rather than name, given to the sons of the Seven Against Thebes. Ten years after the original attack on Thebes by the Seven, their sons renewed the attack on the advice of the Delphic Oracle, mainly to avenge their fathers who had all been killed, except Adrastus.

The names of the Epigoni were: Alcmaeon (their leader), Diomedes, Sthenelus, Euryalus, Promachus, Amphilocus and Aegialeus (son of Adrastus, who was the only one to perish as his father had been the only one to survive). The name means simply 'successors', more precisely 'those born after', from epi, 'after' and gonos, 'child', 'offspring'.

Epimedes

Epimedes was one of the Dactyls. His name boils down to meaning 'fool', from epi, 'after' and medea, 'plans', 'counsels', that is, one who makes plans too late. (Compare Epimetheus.) The Dactyls were a form of fingers, and in some western countries a nickname for the middle finger is the 'fool's finger'.

Epimetheus

Epimetheus was the son of the Titan Iapetus who married Pandora. More relevantly as far as his name is concerned, he was the brother of Prometheus. His name thus means 'afterthought', from epi, 'after' and medos, 'plans', 'schemes', in other words he thought when it was too late, instead of planning in advance, as did his brother Prometheus (whom see). Epimetheus' big mistake was to marry Pandora; he did so in spite of the warning of his brother who saw the danger of accepting gifts from the gods.

Epistrophus

Epistrophus, with Mynes, was the son of king Evenus. He was killed in a battle against Achilles (who was fighting the Trojans). Epistrophe means 'wheeling round', 'returning to the charge': no doubt this was Epistrophus' tactical error.

Epopeus

Epopeus was a king of Sicyon, of uncertain or disputed parentage. His wife was Antiope. His name means 'all-seer', from epopao, 'to look out', 'observe' (in turn from epi, 'over' and ops, 'eye'). This would seem to be a propitious name, suitable for one who is to be a king and oversee his people.

Erato

Erato was the Muse of lyric poetry or songs. Her name simply means 'lovely', 'passionate' (eratos).

Erebus

Erebus was the son of Chaos and Nyx, and the father of Aether (the air), Hemera (the day) and Charon. He is almost more a place than a person, since his name means 'darkness', this being the region that was located above the even deeper Hades. The name is apparently related to the Gothic word riqis, 'darkness'.

Erechtheus

Erechtheus was a king of Athens married to Praxithea. He is often confused with his grandfather Erichthonius, indeed, they may have been one and the same person. His parents were Pandion and Zeuxippe - or (according to Homer) he sprang straight from the soil without any human parents.

He fought a war against the neighbouring people of Eleusis and was involved in a number of violent episodes, including the sacrifice of one of his daughters (Chthonia). His name may, of course, mean much the same as that of Erichthonius (which see), otherwise it could be a shortened form of Erechthochthonios, from erechtho, 'to shake' and chthon, 'earth', thus 'earth-shaker'.