Women, Weird and Wonderful: Kallirhoe-Callirhoe, who loved her bling

Nowadays, most agree that no child should bear responsibilities above its age. The ancient Greeks didn’t have such reservations, as is illustrated by the myth of Kallirhoë. She had her eyes set on the magnificent, but cursed, necklace of her mother in law. It had been passed down through the generations, since it had belonged to the Theban queen Harmonia. And it had caused misery ever since. Kallirhoë knew, but didn’t care. She blackmailed her husband – no need explaining how – to get it. And as could be foreseen, it cost him his life. Instead of taking the blame, Kallirhoë then pleaded with Zeus to make her boys grow up fast, to revenge their father (and get the necklace). When even a mother doesn’t care about her children’s well being, why should Zeus? So he obliged, and the boys became men overnight. They did take revenge, and retrieved the necklace, but instead of taking it to their mum, they dedicated it to a temple at Delphi. We can all agree that made them the adults in the room.

Polynices offers Eriphyle the necklace, Oinochoe, Louvre Museum, Paris, France

Alcmaeon killing Eriphyle, Catalogue des pierres gravées

du prince Stanislas Poniatowsky (via Christie's)

Did you know...

• Harmonia's necklace had been cursed by her stepfather Hephaistos out of jealousy, cfr. “A Poisonous Gift' and “A Testament of Love”.