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Sabrina Carlisle Ms. Causey Adv English W1 15 March 2013 Beautiful or Hideous? Beautiful or hideous? Thats the question with these three, the Graeae, they were a protector, but still the difficult question at hand is are they beautiful or are they hideous? This is one of the most debated questions among writers and researchers some say they had such beauty, others say they were hideous, sure enough to scare anyone off, then again some say they had swan like bodies. Interesting isnt it? While this question remains unanswered it is solely up to the reader to decide for themselves, were these women who didnt antagonize or have much of voice in Greek mythology really that repugnant or were they picturesque? These spirits often have taken on different appearances, some being beautiful, some ugly, Aeschylus said in his story they were Seiren-shaped monsterswith the head and arms of old women and the bodies of swans ,even occasionally as two sisters, which there is some debate on whether there are really two or three. One of the depictions I found of them was, The Graiai, or the three Gray Sisters, were beautiful. They were described as "fair-faced and swan-like" but they's had gray hair from the day they were born...(Athena). Also, some say debating whether these women were truly beautiful said that when they were born, they had the appearance of an old woman, but it is a common place that they were born with their gray hair. The threes name translate to something
This is a depiction of the Graeae in a younger form

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that is supposed to be almost horror related in order to show the reader their true nature. Theres Deino, the terrible; Enyo, the warlike also the most significant in the trio and Persis, the destroyer. Their age was also very great, a human childhood wasnt conceivable, something that anyone could not believe they had, another reason being they were never mortal, Medusa is the only one of the sisters in that family that was ever at a point mortal. The Graeae, or Graiai, they were also referred to as the grey hags. They are seadaimones, they are the protectors of their sisters Gorgons, which includes: Medusa, Sirens, Echidna, Ladon, Scylla, Thoosa. They are the daughters of Phorcys, being one of the gods of the sea, and Ceto, who is depicted as one of the original sea monsters in Greek mythology. Between the three sisters they share one tooth and one eye. So when Perseus came looking for them in order to learn Medusas location he stole both their eye and tooth in order to get them to reveal the whereabouts of their sister. In Perseus story the three Graeae took the name Pemphredo, which means she who guides the way. They are also said to be the white sea foam, because they were in the family of Phorcys which is mainly sea creatures, or are located in the sea. These women were not considered goddesses, but instead were considered monsters; therefore they were not recognized by the other gods. The main story that these Graeae are related with and most commonly know is the story that involves Perseus. They were in the chorus of Aeschylus story and his version, this story is also depicted in a few movies as well, because it is a significant part of Perseus journey when he was trying to go find Medusa. The women when they are shown are often depicted arguing over This is another common depiction of the three sisters

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their one eye, and one tooth, they also are mainly shown with their grey hair. Which shows how wise they are, because gray hair in Greek mythology is a sign of wisdom and age. Therefore that is the reason they are always shown with their gray hair even though they are considerably nave when it comes to Perseus tricks. These women could most commonly relate to the witches that are in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Three is a common theme in many stories, especially in many Greek mythological stories, and here it shows its influence on Shakespeare and how it continued to influence writers, the witches more so closely relate to the Graeae in this story The sisters are also in a book series, commonly known and read, The Sea of Monsters, in the Percy Jackson series, which they were taxi drivers in New York, putting a modern twist on the Graeae sisters, and Greek mythology. There was also a not-so-correct twist in the Disney Hercules movie, to where it was the Fates that shared one eye instead of the Graeae. As one man compared the Graeae with another Greek monster It is worth comparing the Graiai with Lamia, who Greek writers also described as a monstrous, Libyan sea-daimon with removable eyes. (Atsma). Also, in Greek mythology, they are sometimes compared to The Fates, because it is a trio of three, and they are often depicted as old women. Therefore the stories did have influence, and still have influence because three tends to be a common theme in many stories, in which you have two who almost act seemingly outrageous and eccentric, then you have the level headed one who makes the decisions which in the Graeae it would be Enyo, the one who commonly has the level headedness is the one in the middle. However, the women were really never much antagonized in Greek mythology, hence why they are only in one story, Perseus, because they never caused much trouble, because the women were protectors who were also very easily taken advantage of but were still considered

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wise in Greek mythology. In Perseus story they never antagonized either, he simply toyed with them in order to get answers, showing that even heroes have their faults and use peoples fears against them. These women are considered many things; they are wise, picturesque, beautiful, repugnant, ugly, horrid, nave. But all these are often viewed from only one story, therefore not giving a clear aspect to what they truly are, which leaves plenty leaves room for debate. Whether the writers depicted them in different ways for a specific purpose or not tends to almost, in a way, confuse the readers leaving them muddled and undefined and how the reader would then depict them, whether they depict them as old wise women or, young women with gray hair but are also wise, or something monstrous. Its left open for debate, and it should always remain that way, for Greek mythological stories arent supposed to be all the same, for everyone the stories are supposed to change depending on who is telling the story relating back to the tradition of storytelling and how it was viewed in Greek society.

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Bibliography Atsma, Aaron J. "GRAEAE : The Grey Hags." GRAEAE : The Grey Hags | Greek Mythology, Graiai, W/ Pictures. Theoi Project, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. Harry, Tim. "Greek Goddesses: The Graeae." Helium. Helium, 06 July 2009. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. Bulfinch, Thomas. "Chapter 15." The Golden Age of Mythology and Legend. London: Wordsworth, 1993. N. pag. Print. Athena, Ailia. "The Fates, The Graeae, The Enforcers, & The Horae." Women in Greek Myths. Ailia Athena, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2013. <http://www.paleothea.com/Others.html>.

Picture Bibliography http://mythology.wikia.com/wiki/Graeae

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