#nicippe

[sarafangirlart]

“[2.21.9] The statue of the maiden beside the goddess (Leto) they call Chloris (Pale), saying that she was a daughter of Niobe, and that she was called Meliboea at the first. When the children of Amphion were destroyed by Apollo and Arternis, she alone of her sisters, along with Amyclas, escaped; their escape was due to their prayers to Leto. Meliboea was struck so pale by her fright, not only at the time but also for the rest of her life, that even her name was accordingly changed from Meliboea to Chloris.”

“[5.16.4] The (Heraean) games of the maidens too are traced back to ancient times; they say that, out of gratitude to Hera for her marriage with Pelops, Hippodameia assembled the Sixteen Women, and with them inaugurated the Heraea. They relate too that a victory was won by Chloris, the only surviving daughter of the house of Amphion, though with her they say survived one of her brothers. As to the children of Niobe, what I myself chanced to learn about them I have set forth in my account of Argos.”

Both sections are from Pausanias Descriptions of Greece

Hippodamia founding the Heraean Games is one of my favorite games and considering that Hippodamia included Chloris (who was her niece) in the first games, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that perhaps Gorgophone (also her niece through Perseus who is her cousin) to be included in the games. I imagine Hippodamia’s children (Nicippe and Eurydice) were included as well.

[sarafangirlart]

You ever thought to yourself how were Atreus and Thyestes considered candidates for the Mycenaean throne? Sure they were the uncles of the previous king Eurystheus, but they are still guilty of kin slaying so what gives? Also what were they doing in Mycenae?

Apollodorus the Library:

Turns out Sthenelus gave them Midea (even tho they were kin slayers?? Tho perhaps in this telling they haven’t killed Chrysippus yet) and there’s no reason given on why he does that but bc they rule over a town under Mycenaean rule it means they could inherit the throne if Eurystheus and all his sons died leaving no other legitimate heirs to the throne, which is exactly what happened.

I wonder if Nicippe was the one to encourage Sthenelus to give Midea to her exiled brothers, not bc she thinks what they did was justified or anything but bc she wanted to give them a new start and redemption for killing Chrysippus, perhaps she also wanted her elderly mother to live her final days in some comfort bc Hippodamia was exiled from her home and hated by her husband, so one could only imagine the grief Nicippe went through when her husband, son, grandsons, half brother AND mother all died and her two brothers whom she tried to give a second chance became more and more evil.