What is "erigone"

Erigone (Ἠριγόνη) may refer to:

• In Greek mythology:
  • Erigone (daughter of Icarius)
  • Erigone (daughter of Aegisthus)
• 163 Erigone, an asteroid.
• Erigone, a genus of spiders

Erigone is a genus of spiders of the sub-order Araneomorphae and the family Linyphiidae. They are carnivorous, preying on small insects such as psylla and flies. The species of the genus are native to North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Some species with the genus name Erigone are actually synonyms for a species in another genus - Erigone orientalis, for example, is a synonym for Hylyphantes graminicola.

In Greek mythology, Erigone was the daughter of Icarius of Athens. Icarius was cordial towards Dionysus, who gave his shepherds wine. They became intoxicated and killed Icarius, thinking he had poisoned them. His daughter, Erigone, and her dog, Maera, found his body. Erigone hanged herself over her father's grave. Dionysus was angry and punished Athens by making all of the city's maidens commit suicide in the same way. Erigone was placed in the stars as the constellation Virgo.

According to Ovid, Dionysus "deceived Erigone with false grapes", that is, assumed the shape of a grape cluster to approach and seduce her.

In Greek mythology, Erigone was the daughter of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra, rulers of Mycenae. Some accounts said by her half-brother, Orestes, Erigone was the mother of Penthilus.

She would have been slain by Orestes along with her brother Aletes if not for the intervention of Artemis, who rescued her and made her a priestess in Attica. In some stories, she hangs herself after the child is born, though this may be a confusion with Erigone, daughter of Icarius. Also, after Hermione died, she is said to have married Orestes and gave birth to Penthilus. Or it is said she sued Orestes to murder of her parents.