The Proetides

     In Eclogue 6, the god Silenus starts singing about a variety of mythological characters, and references the daughters of Proetus, who are referred to as “Proetides,” a patronymic form, in line 48. Their father Proetus was the king of Tiryns and formerly the king of Argos, and the Proetides themselves were Iphianassa, Iphinoe, and Lysippe. The three Proetides were cursed to roam while pretending to be cows. According to book four of Diodorus Siculus’ Bibliotheca historica (4.68), this was due to the Proetides refusing to worship Dionysus, thus resulting in his wrath. Other scholars, such as Maurus Servius Honoratus, say that they were cursed because of their refusal to pay proper respects to Juno, with the offense being “...ausae sunt vesti eius aurum detractum in usum suum convertere,” which roughly translates into the three Proetides ‘being bold to turn gold from her [Juno] robe into their own use’  (Commentary on the Eclogues of Vergil, 6.48). This can be read as the Proetides stealing gold from a statue of Juno, or from her offerings. In some narratives, the Proetides also grow ugly and lose their hair. 

    Melampus, a healer, offers to heal all the Proetides, but Proetus refuses, for Melampus wants a third of Proetus’ kingdom as payment. After this refusal, the Proetides grow even madder and in some accounts, their madness spreads to the other women in the city. But eventually, the Proetides were cured by Melampus. However, by the second time, Melampus demanded two-thirds of Proetus’ kingdom to split with his brother, Bias. According to Apollodorus, Melampus’ method of healing the women of Tiryns was to lead them in a chase all the way to Sicyon (Bibliotheca 2.2.2). In the pursuit, Iphinoe dies. However, Iphianassa and Lysippe get cured and are eventually married to Melampus and Bias.