Editing Harmonia (section)

===The cursed necklace===

[[Polynices]], who inherited the necklace, gave it to [[Eriphyle]], that she might persuade her husband, [[Amphiaraus]], to undertake the expedition against Thebes.<ref>Apollodorus, 3.6.2; [[Scholia]] ad Pindar, ''Pythian Odes'' 3.167 (cited by Schmitz)</ref> Through [[Alcmaeon (mythology)|Alcmaeon]], the son of Eriphyle, the necklace came into the hands of Arsinoe (named Alphesiboea in some versions), next into those of the sons of [[Phegeus]], [[Pronous]] and [[Agenor, son of Phegeus|Agenor]], and lastly into those of the sons of Alcmaeon, [[Alcmaeon (mythology)|Amphoterus]] and [[Acarnan]], who dedicated it in the temple of [[Athena Pronoea]] at [[Delphi]].<ref>Apollodorus, 3.7.5–7 (cited by Schmitz)</ref> The necklace had wrought mischief to all who had been in possession of it, and it continued to do so even after it was dedicated at Delphi. [[Phayllus]], the tyrant, stole it from the temple to gratify his mistress, who was married to [[Ariston (mythology)|Ariston]]. She wore it for a time, but at last her youngest son was seized with madness, and set fire to the house, in which she perished with all her treasures.<ref>[[Athenaeus]], ''[[Deipnosophistae]]'' 6, p. 232; [[Parthenius of Nicaea|Parthenius]], [https://topostext.org/work/550#25 25] (cited by Schmitz)</ref>

[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]] gives another version. According to him, the thing which brought ill fate to the descendants of Harmonia is not a necklace, but the ''phellos'' "dipped in crime", given to Harmonia by Hephestus and [[Hera]].<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#148 148]</ref> This plot to curse the ''phellos'' was due to Hephaestus's anger at Aphrodite's trysts with Ares, and his vow to curse all children born of the union. The necklace gave peace and held Harmonia's powers in it, which is what made it cursed.

Harmonia is also rationalized as closely allied to [[Aphrodite Pandemos]], the love that unites all people, the personification of order and civic unity, corresponding to the Roman goddess [[Concordia (mythology)|Concordia]].<ref name="EB1911"/>