Achiroe

"Anchiroe" redirects here. For the genus of moth, see Anchiroe (moth).

For other uses, see Anchiroe (mythology).

Achiroë (/əˈkɪroʊi/; Ancient Greek: Ἀχιρόη [akʰiróɛː]), Anchirrhoë (Ἀγχιρρόη), or Anchinoë (Ἀγχινόη), which is perhaps a mistake for Anchiroë, was in Greek mythology an Egyptian naiad, as daughter of the river-god Nilus. She was the wife of King Belus of Egypt, by whom she became the mother of Aegyptus and Danaus, and, according to some accounts, Cepheus, and Phineus.

Achiroe
Naiad Queen of Egypt
Member of the Argive family
Abode	River Nile in Egypt
Genealogy
Parents	Nilus
Siblings	Memphis, Telephassa, Chione, Caliadne (possibly), Polyxo (possibly)
Consort	Belus
Offspring	Danaus, Aegyptus, Cepheus, Phineus

Otherwise, the possible mother of these children and spouse of Belus was called Side, eponym of Sidon in Phoenicia.

Mythology

Anchinoe was a minor figure in Greek accounts and only mentioned by Apollodorus in his Bibliotheca:

“But Belus remained in Egypt, reigned over the country, and married Anchinoe, daughter of Nile, by whom he had twin sons, Egyptus and Danaus, but according to Euripides, he had also Cepheus and Phineus.”

Argive genealogy

Argive genealogy in Greek mythology

Inachus Melia Zeus Io Phoroneus Epaphus Memphis Libya Poseidon Belus Achiroë Agenor Telephassa Danaus Elephantis Aegyptus Cadmus Cilix Europa Phoenix Mantineus Hypermnestra Lynceus Harmonia Zeus Polydorus Sparta Lacedaemon Ocalea Abas Agave Sarpedon Rhadamanthus Autonoë Eurydice Acrisius Ino Minos Zeus Danaë Semele Zeus Perseus Dionysus

Colour key:   Male   Female   Deity

References

• Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
• Bell, Robert E., Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. ABC-Clio. 1991. ISBN 9780874365818, 0874365813.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Achiroe". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.