Hyrnetho

Hyrnetho is presented in the tradition as a daughter of King Temenus of the Temenid line and the wife of Deiphontes. When Temenus favored Deiphontes (and by marriage Hyrnetho) in questions of succession, Temenus' sons murdered him and attempted to deprive Deiphontes of his wife to weaken their rival. The brothers came to Epidaurus, attempted to persuade Hyrnetho to leave Deiphontes, then carried her off by force; in the ensuing struggle one brother was shot by Deiphontes and another dragged Hyrnetho back with such violence that she died while pregnant. Deiphontes carried her body back to Epidaurus and is said to have erected a sanctuary to her; a tomb, a heroum, and a sacred grove connected with her burial are attested at Epidaurus and Argos.

Sources do not provide a physical description of Hyrnetho. Material traces associated with her in the tradition are a tomb, a heroum (hero-shrine), and a sacred grove shown at Epidaurus and Argos; no clothing, stature, or portraitic details are preserved in the cited accounts.

Hyrnetho is a mortal human figure in the extant accounts; no supernatural powers or abilities are attributed to her. Her notable actions in the narratives are filial and marital fidelity and the passionate defense of her husband against her brothers' attempts to remove her. Her death is a mortal consequence of intra-family violence during a dynastic dispute.