Fury
Intense uncontrollable anger, from the Furies (Erinyes), avenging spirits who punished the wicked.
The Meaning of Fury
The Erinyes — Alecto (Unceasing), Megaera (Grudging), and Tisiphone (Avenging Murder) — were born from the blood of Ouranos when Kronos castrated him. These winged, serpent-haired spirits pursued anyone guilty of crimes against family, especially murder of kin. They hounded Orestes across Greece after he killed his mother Clytemnestra, driving him to madness until Athena established a trial at Athens where the jury of citizens split evenly and Athena cast the deciding vote for acquittal. To prevent the Erinyes from cursing Athens in revenge, Athena offered them a new role as the Eumenides (the Kindly Ones), benevolent guardians of justice rather than agents of torment. The English word "fury" comes from the Latin "Furia," the Roman name for these spirits. The word retains their ferocity: a fury is anger beyond reason, the kind that consumes everything in its path.
Parents
Born from the blood of Ouranos
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Greeks avoided saying "Erinyes" aloud and used the euphemism "Eumenides" (Kindly Ones) — naming them directly was believed to summon their attention.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Erinyes
💭 conceptThe Furies — avengers of crimes
Three terrifying goddesses who punished those guilty of murder, oath-breaking, and crimes against family. Also called the Furies or, euphemistically, the Eumenides.
God of War
💭 conceptWar, bloodlust, battle rage, courage
Ares embodies the brutal, violent side of warfare and was feared even by his fellow Olympians.
House of Atreus
💭 conceptNarrative
The cursed royal dynasty of Mycenae whose generations of bloodshed and vengeance form the darkest saga in Greek mythology
The Twelve Labours
💭 conceptHeroism, endurance, redemption
Twelve impossible tasks imposed on Heracles by King Eurystheus as penance for killing his own family in a madness sent by Hera.
Arae
🐉 creatureCurses, vengeance
Spirits of curses who personified the destructive power of spoken imprecations and oaths
Alastor
💭 conceptvengeance, religion
An avenging spirit or the curse of blood-guilt that pursues a family across generations, demanding retribution.
Alecto
⚡ godUnderworld
One of the three Erinyes whose name means "Unceasing" and who embodies relentless anger
Divine Justice
💭 conceptEthics
The principle that the gods punish wrongdoing and uphold moral order in the cosmos
God of Lightning
💭 conceptLightning, thunder, divine punishment
Zeus wields lightning as both weapon and symbol of supreme authority, striking down those who defy cosmic order.
Hippolytus and Phaedra
💭 conceptNarrative
A tragedy of forbidden desire, false accusation, and divine cruelty destroying an innocent young prince
Agrionia
💭 conceptFestival, Dionysus, madness
Nocturnal festival of Dionysus involving ritual madness, pursuit, and symbolic dismemberment
Nemesis
💭 conceptLanguage and justice
An English word meaning an inescapable rival or agent of downfall, derived from Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution who punished hubris and excessive good fortune