Also called The Grey Sisters, Pemphredo, Enyo, Deino.
Their story
The Graeae are daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, grey-haired from birth and sisters of the Gorgons. Hesiod names two, Pemphredo and Enyo, and later writers add Deino. They shared a single eye and a single tooth between them. Perseus snatched the eye as they passed it, and would only return it when they told him the way to the nymphs who held his magical gear.
Best times to give to them
- None traditional
- When reading or retelling the myth
What they like being given
- None are traditional
- A candle lit while reading or retelling the story
How to honour them
- Reflect on the wisdom of age, and on how knowledge is held in common.
- Consider Perseus's trick, and whether taking what others need is ever right.
How they can help you
- Respect for elders
- Shared knowledge
Symbols
- one shared eye
- one shared tooth
- swan shape
Sources
- Hesiod, Theogony 270-273
- Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 794-797
- Apollodorus, Library 2.4.2
More Greek spirits
- The Anemoi The four winds
- The Muses The nine daughters of Memory
- The Moirai Spinners of the thread of life
- The Charites The Graces of joy and charm
- The Horae Keepers of the seasons and order
- The Erinyes Avengers of blood and broken oaths
- The Harpies The snatchers
- The Gorgons The three sisters of the terrible gaze