IPHIS (daughter of Ligdus)
Figure of myth · daughter of Ligdus
- Parents
- Ligdus, Telethusa
- Consorts
- Ianthe
- In the sources
- 20 ancient passages
Iphis, a female child born to a Cretan mother, possessed a face that remained beautiful whether viewed as male or female.1 The father named the child after its grandfather, who was also called Iphis.1 Though born as a female, the mother raised Iphis as a boy to hide the truth from the father.1
Iphis was promised in marriage to the yellow-haired Iänthe, the most beautiful virgin among all the women of Phæstus.1,2 Both fathers wished for the marriage to proceed, and the couple, being the same age, had studied under the same teacher.1,2 Iphis, who believed Iänthe to be a man, fell in love and gained her as a partner.3,4 As the wedding day approached, Iphis lamented that she could not marry Iänthe, noting that nature was the only obstacle to their union.2 Despairing of being able to enjoy her beloved, Iphis suppressed her tears with difficulty while speaking of her distress.3
Iphis confessed that her passion was more extravagant than Pasiphae's love for a bull and felt it was unnatural and unheard of among humans.2,3 Wishing Dædalus could transform her from a maiden into a youth, Iphis urged herself to shake off this unreasonable passion.2 Iphis was transformed from a female into a male, a change considered a local wonder in Crete.5,6 After the change, Iphis's facial features became more stern and his hair grew shorter.6
Rejoicing with no hesitating confidence, Iphis brought offerings to the temple and added an inscription to the temple offerings.6 The inscription identified Iphis as a male who had previously vowed as a female.6 In other accounts, Iphis is identified as the father of Eteoclus and the parent of Evadne.7,8 One source describes Iphis as the mother of the sullen lion who leads the lion whelp to sacrifice.9 The sullen lion, identified as the child of Iphis, imitated his mother's lustrations.9
Fate eventually claimed Iphis, who was pierced by the warrior Acamas during a battle.10 In a different tradition, Achilles gave Iphis to Patroclus when he captured the city of Scyros.11 Iphis appears to be examining the form of Helen in one account.12 Previously, Iphis kept his daughter Evadne under strict guard in his house.13 Iphis advised herself to love what is allowable for a woman, though she ultimately wished she did not exist due to her distressing situation.2,3
The codex facts behind this entry
Iphis is a female who is mistaken for a male. Ovid Met. 9.666-797 (5) +1
In the myths
Iphis was promised in marriage to the yellow-haired Iänthe by her father, and both fathers wished for the marriage to proceed. Ovid Met. 9.666-797 (4) +1
Fate
Iphis was transformed from a female into a male, a change considered a local wonder in Crete. Ovid Met. 9.666-797 +1
