Podarge

Mythic being

In Greek mythology, Podarge (Ancient Greek: Ποδάργη, lit. 'swift-foot') is a harpy, a personification of a swift wind and mate of Zephyrus, the West Wind. She is the mother of Balius and Xanthus — two divine horses renowned for their swiftness and who were gifted to Achilles, running as fast as the wind.

Explore on the graph
Mentions
2
Connected characters
2
Books
2

Mentions in the Iliad

A. T. Murray, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1924 · Homer, Iliad with an English Translation · CC BY-SA 3.0 US

“that the Harpy Podarge conceived to the West Wind, as she grazed on the meadow beside the stream of Oceanus. And in the side-traces he set the goodly Pedasus that on a time Achilles had brought away, when he took the city of Eetion; and he, being but mortal, kept pace with immortal steeds.”
Il. 16.150–154
“Xanthus and Balius, ye far-famed children of Podarge, in some other wise bethink you to bring your charioteer back safe to the host of the Danaans, when we have had our fill of war, and leave ye not him there dead, as ye did Patroclus. Then from beneath the yoke spake to him the horse Xanthus, of the swift-glancing feet;”
Il. 19.400–404

Connections

Son · Sources
Son · Sources

Ил. 16.149–151 прямо называет Балия и Ксанфа детьми Подарги и Зефира; Ил. 19.400 повторяет материнство Подарги.

Илиада 16.149–151; 19.400 — Балий · Iliad 16.149–151; 19.400 ↗
And the horses he bade Automedon yoke speedily, even him that he honoured most after Achilles, breaker of the ranks of men, and that in his eyes was faithful above all to abide his call in battle. At his bidding then Automedon led beneath the yoke the fleet horses, Xanthus and Balius, that flew swift as the winds, horsesthat the Harpy Podarge conceived to the West Wind, as she grazed on the meadow beside the stream of Oceanus. And in the side-traces he set the goodly Pedasus that on a time Achilles had brought away, when he took the city of Eetion; and he, being but mortal, kept pace with immortal steeds.
Il. 16.149–151

Il. 16.149–151

Son · Sources
Son · Sources
that the Harpy Podarge conceived to the West Wind, as she grazed on the meadow beside the stream of Oceanus. And in the side-traces he set the goodly Pedasus that on a time Achilles had brought away, when he took the city of Eetion; and he, being but mortal, kept pace with immortal steeds.
Il. 16.150–151
Xanthus and Balius, ye far-famed children of Podarge, in some other wise bethink you to bring your charioteer back safe to the host of the Danaans, when we have had our fill of war, and leave ye not him there dead, as ye did Patroclus. Then from beneath the yoke spake to him the horse Xanthus, of the swift-glancing feet;
Il. 19.400

Il. 16.150–151 · Il. 19.400

In art

There is nothing in this section yet.

04 / PROVENANCE

Sources and verification

The character is matched to the catalogue.

Wikidata Q2723576

Reference material remains distinct from the poem’s assertions. Characters who share a name retain separate pages.