ENYO (greek goddess of war and destruction)

Enyo, the ghastly and dread goddess, stood supreme in war alongside Athena.^1,2,3 Her appearance was terrifying, resembling the Erinyes, with limbs covered in gore and fearful sweat streaming from her skin.^4,5,2 Dressed in saffron robes, she carried a torch freshly charged with fire and possessed other serpents, her tresses riotous and fresh from the fount of Cocytus.^6,7,8 Known as the waster of cities and referred to as Martian in some texts, she breathed destruction from her lips like flame.^4,9,10

During the battle for Troy, Enyo yelled horribly and maddened the combatants, leading the Trojan battalions forward alongside Ares and Hector.^11,12,3 She stalked through the midst of the battle, goading warriors to charge and spurring them on to keep fighting without pause.^2,13,5 Enyo maintained the balance of the battle between the opposing forces, holding the scales of combat to prolong the struggle until fighters were exhausted and wounded.^14,15 She aided neither side to avoid angering Thetis or Ares, yet she drove the Trojan warriors to continue fighting despite the death of Paris.^5,4 Standing near the combatants, such as during the fight between Neoptolemus and Eurypylus, she watched the battle with delight as heroes struggled against each other.¹³ Enyo shouted with joy over the ongoing battle, her presence a constant source of ruthless turmoil for the men below.^3,16

Enyo served as a witness to the solemn oath sworn by the Stygian goddesses in a dark grove near Athena's hill.¹⁰ In Thebes, she was actively restoring the fight while events unfolded, and she was asked to boast about and spread the story of the bloody battle.^7,8 Warriors invoked her strength for upcoming conflicts, asking her to join their cause and choose which banner to bear for the coming strife.⁸ The seven commanders swore an oath invoking Enyo alongside Ares and Rout.¹⁷ Enyo was shown as part of the imagery on an invincible shield.²

Enyo and her sisters showed Perseus the way to the nymphs.¹⁸ Enyo's warriors danced with Libyan women during the Carnean feast.¹⁹ Throughout the night, Enyo danced while reveling in the blood of the slain.²⁰ She observed the Trojans bringing the wooden horse into their city.²¹ Upon seeing the conclusion of the dire war, Enyo laughed grimly, still having all her rage.^8,21

In the codex relations, Enyo is listed as the consort of Ares and the mother of several figures, including Oenomaus, Eros, Harmonia, Phlegyas, Anteros, Thrax, Phobos, and Deimos. Unlike the Cyprian goddess, Enyo possessed the unique strength to lord it over men in combat, dominating them with her fierce presence.^9,1 Her nature was fraught with ruthless turmoil, and she maddened the scene of battle.^3,12 Enyo remained a figure of dread and ghastly power, described with the epithet meaning the waster of cities.^2,3,9