Sinope
nymphA nymph who outwitted Zeus, Apollo, and the river god Halys by making each promise her virginity as a gift before granting her favours — then holding them to it.
The Myth
Sinope was a daughter of the river god Asopus (or in some versions, of Ares). She was beautiful, and Zeus desired her. But Sinope was clever. She told Zeus she would yield to him if he granted her one wish — anything she wanted. Zeus, confident, agreed. Sinope's wish was to remain a virgin forever. Zeus, bound by his own oath, had to honour it.
Apollo tried the same approach. Sinope played the same trick. Apollo, trapped by his promise, retreated. Even the river god Halys attempted to court her, and she outsmarted him with identical cunning. Three divine suitors, three defeats, all by the same stratagem.
Zeus, perhaps admiring her nerve, gave her the region of Paphlagonia on the Black Sea coast. The city of Sinope was founded there and became one of the most prosperous Greek colonies in the region. It was the birthplace of the philosopher Diogenes the Cynic, who lived in a barrel and told Alexander the Great to get out of his sunlight. There is something fitting about the city of the cleverest nymph producing the most irreverent philosopher.
Children
None — she died a virgin
Symbols
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Asopus
godRiver god of the Asopus in Boeotia, father of many nymphs.
Metope
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Apollo
godGod of light, music, poetry, and prophecy. Apollo embodied the Greek ideal of youthful masculine...
Apollo (Far-Striker)
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Apollo (Light)
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Ares
godGod of the brutal, savage side of war. Unlike Athena's strategic warfare, Ares represented the raw...
Ares (War God)
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Zeus
godSupreme ruler of the Olympian gods and lord of the sky. Zeus overthrew his father Kronos and...
Zeus (King)
godZeus was the king of the Olympian gods, ruler of the sky, wielder of the thunderbolt — the supreme...
Zeus (Thunderer)
godThe supreme Olympian who rules gods and mortals from Mount Olympus, wielding the thunderbolt as...
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