harpy

Harpy, in Greek mythology

Harpy, in Greek mythology, winged women with sharp claws who snatched food, objects, or people.

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harpy, in zoology

harpy or harpy eagle: see eagle.

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Harpy

In Greek and Roman mythology, a bird of prey with a woman's face. Often depicted on tombs, Harpies may originally have been conceived of as ghosts. In early Greek literature, including the writings of Homer and Hesiod, they were wind spirits and were not represented as ugly or repellent. In the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, however, the Harpies were hideous, foul-smelling birds with the faces of women, sent to punish King Phineus of Thrace by defiling his food; they were frightened away by the sons of Boreas.

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harpy

foul-smelling creature; half-vulture, half-woman. [Gk. Myth.: Mercatante, 212–213]

See : Monsters