Why does Zeus punish Phineas with the Harpies?

According to scholia on the Odyssey, when asked by Zeus if he preferred to die or lose sight as punishment for having his sons killed by their stepmother, Phineus chose the latter saying he would rather never see the sun, and consequently it was the scorned Helios who sent the Harpies against him.

How was Phineus saved from the Harpies?

Phineas was saved by the Argonauts (q.v.), who drove the harpies away, and as a reward he told them how to pass the Symplegades.

Who was tortured by the Harpies?

Harpies were used as a form of torture for anyone that angered Zeus. In this case it was the prophet, Phineus. This myth however also shows obvious weaknesses of these creatures. They were often no match for gods with extreme powers and were overtaken by the use of wind.

What did the Harpies do?

The Harpies were mythical monsters in Greek mythology that had the form of a bird with a human female face; often agents of punishment they abducted people and tortured them on their way to Hades’ domain, employed by the God as instruments for the punishment of the guilty.

Why was phineus being tormented by the harpies?

According to different sources, he was blinded, an event that happened as a punishment for either blinding his own sons; giving Phrixus directions; or revealing the future to mankind. As extra punishment, he was tormented by the Harpies, which defiled his food whenever he tried to eat.

Why did Phrixus sacrifice the ram?

In gratitude, Phrixus sacrificed the ram to Poseidon and gave the king the Golden Fleece of the ram, which Aeëtes hung in a tree in the holy grove of Ares in his kingdom, guarded by a dragon that never slept. Phrixus and Chalciope had four sons, who later joined forces with the Argonauts.

Why was Tityos punished?

Now some tell of how the grave of Tityos was to be found at Panopeus through antiquity, but it was also said that Tityos was cast by Apollo, or Zeus, into Tartarus to face eternal punishment for his attempts to rape Leto.

Why is phineus being tormented by the Harpies?

Are all Harpies female?

Harpies, contrary to popular belief, are not a single-gender species. There aren’t only female harpies, but there are harpies of the male gender as well.

Are Harpies evil?

The Harpies of ancient Greek mythology were small, half-human, quite disgusting birdlike creatures, with long sharp claws and faces pale from the pangs of ever-present hunger. They came in flocks or swarms, evil harbingers of stench and foul decay, contaminating everything they came in contact with.