Achiroë (; Ancient Greek: Ἀχιρόη [akʰiróɛː]), Anchirrhoë (Ἀγχιρρόη), or Anchinoë (Ἀγχινόη), which is perhaps a mistake for Anchiroë, was in Greek mythology an Egyptian naiad, as daughter of the river-god Nilus. She was the wife of King Belus of Egypt, by whom she became the mother of Aegyptus and Danaus, and, according to some accounts, Cepheus, and Phineus.
Otherwise, the possible mother of these children and spouse of Belus was called Side, eponym of Sidon in Phoenicia.
Mythology
Anchinoe was a minor figure in Greek accounts and only mentioned by Apollodorus in his Bibliotheca:
- “But Belus remained in Egypt, reigned over the country, and married Anchinoe, daughter of Nile, by whom he had twin sons, Egyptus and Danaus, but according to Euripides, he had also Cepheus and Phineus.”
Argive genealogy
Notes
References
- 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. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Bell, Robert E., Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-Clio. 1991. ISBN 9780874365818, 0874365813.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Achiroe". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
