Menippe and Metioche

Lore & Background

Menippe and Metioche were the daughters of Orion by an unnamed mother, though in other sources Orion's first wife is called Side. After Orion was killed by Artemis, the girls were raised by their mother while Athena taught them weaving and Aphrodite gave them beauty. Their homeland Aonia at the base of Mt. Helicon was struck by a plague, and the oracle of Apollo Gortynius informed the people that the gods of the Underworld were angry and would only be appeased by the sacrifice of two maidens who offered themselves willingly. No other girls were willing, but Menippe and Metioche, upon hearing the prophecy, offered themselves for their countrymen.

Reader's Guide

The myth of Menippe and Metioche is a rare example of voluntary human sacrifice in Greek mythology, highlighting themes of filial piety and civic duty. After invoking the infernal gods three times, they killed themselves with their shuttles, placating Hades and Persephone, who then metamorphosed their bodies into comets. The Aonians erected a sanctuary near Orchomenus, where youths and maidens offered annual propitiatory sacrifices. The Aeolians called these maidens Coronides. In Ovid's version, the daughters remain unnamed, and from their ashes two youths arise who lead the funeral train and are called Coroni. The tale underscores the power of self-sacrifice to avert divine wrath and the subsequent honor paid to the victims.

Did You Know?

• Menippe and Metioche killed themselves with their weaving shuttles.
• After their deaths, Hades and Persephone turned their bodies into comets.
• A sanctuary was built for them near Orchomenus, where annual sacrifices were offered by youths and maidens.
• In Ovid's account, the daughters are unnamed and two youths called Coroni arise from their ashes.