Editing Mestra

{{for|the butterfly genus|Mestra (butterfly)}}
[[File:Bauer - Erysichthon Mnestra.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Erysichthon sells his daughter Mestra. An engraving from among [[Johann Wilhelm Baur]]'s illustrations of Ovid's ''Metamorphoses''. Poseidon can be seen in the lower-left background.]]
In [[Greek mythology]], '''Mestra''' ({{langx|grc|Μήστρα}}, ''Mēstra'')<ref>She is also occasionally referred to as '''Mnestra''' in modern sources, though the form is not anciently attested; cf. [[Clytemnestra]], whose name does appear with and without the ''n'' in ancient authors. The [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Pseudo-Apollodoran]] ''Bibliotheca'' (2.1.5) uses the form [[Mnestra (mythology)|Mnestra]] for one of [[Danaus]]' daughters who marries and then murders [[Aegius]], son of [[Aegyptus]].</ref> was a daughter of [[Erysichthon of Thessaly]].<ref>[[Ovid]], ''[[Metamorphoses]]'' 8.739; cf. [[Hesiod]], ''[[Catalogue of Women|Ehoiai]]'' fr. 43a</ref> [[Antoninus Liberalis]] called her [[Hypermnestra (mythology)|Hypermestra]] and Erysichthon [[Aethon]].<ref>[[Antoninus Liberalis]], [https://topostext.org/work/216#17 17]</ref>

== Family ==
Mestra was the mother of King [[Eurypylus of Cos|Eurypylus]] of [[Kos|Cos]] by [[Poseidon]].<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Catalogue of Women|Ehoiai]]'' 43a.79(55)–82(58)</ref> According to [[Ovid]], she was married to the thief [[Autolycus]].<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 8.739</ref>

== Mythology ==
Mestra had the ability to change her shape at will, a gift of her rapist [[Poseidon]] according to [[Ovid]].<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 8.850–54</ref> Erysichthon exploited this gift in order to sate the insatiable hunger with which he had been cursed by [[Demeter]] for violating a grove sacred to the goddess.<ref>Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 8.741–842; cf. [[Callimachus]], ''Hymn to Demeter'' 24–69</ref> The father would repeatedly sell his daughter to suitors for the [[bride price#Ancient Greece|bride prices]] they would pay, only to have the girl return home to her father in the form of various animals.<ref>Hesiod, ''Ehoiai'' fr. 43a ([[:File:Berlin papyrus 7497 - Hesiod, Catalogue of Women - Fr. 43(a), 76–91 M.-W. (Mestra and Eurynome, Bellerophon).jpg|Berlin papyrus 7497]]); Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' 8.871–74; [[Tzetzes]] on [[Lycophron]], [https://topostext.org/work/860#1393 1393]</ref>{{AI-generated source|date=November 2024}} Mestra's great-granduncle [[Sisyphus]] also hoped to win her as a bride for his son [[Glaucus (son of Sisyphus)|Glaucus]] although that marriage did not take place.<ref>Hesiod, ''Ehoiai'' fr. 43a.2–83; cf. [[Catalogue of Women#CITEREFWest1985a|West (1985a]], p. 64)</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite book|last=Hard|first=Robin|title=The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology|publisher=Taylor & Francis Group|year=2004|isbn=0-203-44633-X|location=New York|pages=433, 663}}</ref>

Ultimately, Poseidon carried away Mestra to the island of Cos.<ref>Hesiod, ''Ehoiai'' 43a.79(55)–82(58)</ref><blockquote>"And earth-shaking Poseidon overpowered her<br>far from her father, carrying her over the wine-dark sea<br>in sea-girt Cos, clever though she was;<br>there she bore Eurypylus, commander of many people."</blockquote>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==

* [[Antoninus Liberalis]], ''The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis'' translated by Francis Celoria (Routledge 1992). [https://topostext.org/work/216 Online version at the Topos Text Project.]
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
* [[Callimachus]], ''Callimachus and Lycophron with an English translation by A. W. Mair; Aratus, with an English translation by G. R. Mair'', London: W. Heinemann, New York: G. P. Putnam 1921. Internet Archive
* Callimachus, ''Works''. A.W. Mair. London: William Heinemann; New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 1921. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2008.01.0481 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Hesiod]], ''Catalogue of Women'' from ''Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle, Homerica'' translated by Evelyn-White, H G. Loeb Classical Library Volume 57. London: William Heinemann, 1914. [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodCatalogues.html Online version at theio.com]
* [[Ovid|Publius Ovidius Naso]], ''Metamorphoses'' translated by Brookes More (1859-1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0028 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Publius Ovidius Naso, ''Metamorphoses.'' Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0029 Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library].

==Further reading==
* {{Citation| last=Fantham| first=E.| author-link=Elaine Fantham |title=''Sunt quibus in plures ius est transire figuras'': Ovid's Self-Transformers in the ''Metamorphoses''| journal=CW| volume=87| year=1993| issue=2| pages=21–36| doi=10.2307/4351453| jstor=4351453}}.
* {{Citation| last=Hopkinson| first=N.| title=Callimachus: Hymn to Demeter| place=Cambridge| year=1984| isbn=978-0-521-60436-9}}.
* {{Citation| last=Ormand| first=K.| title=Marriage, Identity, and the Tale of Mestra in the Hesiodic ''Catalogue of Women''| journal=American Journal of Philology| volume=125| year=2004| issue=3| pages=303–38| doi=10.1353/ajp.2004.0030| jstor=1562169| pmid=21966749| s2cid=36204915}}.
* {{Citation| last=Robertson| first=N.| title=Greek Ritual Begging in Aid of Women's Fertility and Childbirth| journal=TAPA| volume=113| year=1983| pages=143–69| doi=10.2307/284008| jstor=284008}}.
* {{Citation| last=Robertson| first=N.| title=The Ritual Background of the Erysichthon Story| journal=American Journal of Philology| volume=105| year=1984| issue=4| pages=369–408| doi=10.2307/294833| jstor=294833}}.

{{Metamorphoses in Greek mythology}}

[[Category:Family of Canace]]
[[Category:Greek mythological slaves]]
[[Category:Metamorphoses into animals in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological Thessalians]]
[[Category:Mythology of Phocis]]
[[Category:Princesses in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Shapeshifters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Therianthropes]]
[[Category:Women in Greek mythology]]