Physcoa
In Greek mythology, Physcoa (Ancient Greek: Φυσκόα Phuskóa) was a woman from the deme Orthia of Elis. She was credited with a variety of notable deeds, which are recorded in Pausanias' Description of Greece.
Physcoa was believed to have belonged to the very first, legendary set of the so-called
Another of Pausanias' sources informs that it was
Physcoa was said to have consorted with Dionysus and to have had by him a son Narcaeus. When Narcaeus grew up, it is related, he conquered many neighboring peoples and gained a lot of power; he was also credited with founding the sanctuary of Athena Narcaea. Narcaeus and Physcoa were also reported to be the first people to pay homage to Dionysus as a god.
Pausanias mentions that various honors were paid to Physcoa, and these included making her the eponym of the ritual dance.
References
- Pausanias, Description of Greece, 5. 16. 4 - 7