Graeae

The Graeae (Greek γραῖαι, old women ) with names Pemphredo, Enyo and Deino are the daughters of Phorkys and keto. You are in Greek mythology as the three sisters of the Gorgons, or even as " the Grey " since they are gray -haired since birth. The Graeae are apparently nothing more than the personification of age.

In order to distinguish them from other gray-haired goddesses, like the Fates, they are also referred to as the " Graeae of Phorkys ", " Phorkiden " or " Phorkyaden ". They came even as old women to the world and divided along a tooth and an eye that they mutually settled when needed, and at their abode, a cave at the foot of the Atlas, shone neither sun nor moon - a reference to that of Perseus was very much required, as he had to meet with them.

Perseus outwitted in his quest for the Gorgon Medusa, whose whereabouts known only to Graiai by offering them to keep the eye and the tooth, so that they can eat his victuals, after it they lusted. Perseus now blackmailed: either they tell him where Medusa was to be found, or all three remain blind and toothless. After he got the information he gives them probably back the tooth, but the eye throws in the " Tritonis ", so they must dive for it and the adjacent living nymphs are finally freed by this forced bathroom of their stench.

An alternative course of history is by Karl Kerényi shown as follows: The Graiai hold individually guard at the entrance to the gardens of the Hesperides, must thus be the changing of the guard present the only eye and are each at this time all together blind. Perseus - also under the protection of his magic hat - waiting for this moment and steals the Graiai the eye to make them vulnerable to blackmail. Hesiod knows only two Graiai, namely the " schöngewandete " Pemphredo and the " saffron - robed " Enyo emphasizing their beautiful face. According to another story is in the Graiai to swan similar aged virgins.