In
Greek mythology the
Erinyes (;
sing. Erinys ; ,
pl. of ,
Erinys), also known as
Furies, were female
chthonic deities of
vengeance; they were sometimes referred to as "infernal goddesses" . A formulaic oath in the
Iliad invokes them as "those who beneath the earth punish whosoever has sworn a false oath".
Burkert suggests they are "an embodiment of the act of self-cursing contained in the oath". They correspond to the
Dirae in
Roman mythology, and some suppose that they are called Furies in hell,
Harpies on earth, and Dirae in heaven.