Pyrene (mythology)

Pyrene (Greek Πυρήνη ) was in Greek mythology the daughter of King Bebryx.

When Heracles was on the way to Geryon to steal his cattle, he was hospitably received by Bebryx, seduced by the wine drunk Pyrene by making their false promises, and then moved on. She gave birth to a snake and fled out of fear of her father in the wilderness of the Pyrenees, where she was killed by wild animals. Heracles found her body when he was coming back from Geryon, and buried them. He cried plaintively her name, which was repeated by the echo of the mountains. Thus the mountain range of the Pyrenees got its name.