Hell Hath No Furies...Or Does It? The Origin and Mythology Behind Once's Latest Creature

Hell Hath No Furies...Or Does It? The Origin and Mythology Behind Once's Latest Creature
By Amy Hood- @Amylia403

​     The latest creature of lore to visit Storybrooke was the Fury, a winged creature who came to take Robin as payment for the price of Regina's request that Dark Magic be used to save him. We have heard for seasons about the "price of magic", and based on the mythology of these creatures, it was a perfect choice for exacting that price.

     The Furies figure into both Greek and Roman Mythology. They are also known as the Erinyes, or "Angry Ones". In the episode of Once Upon A Time  titled "The Price". the Fury was there to take Robin to the Underworld, which was in fact, one of the jobs they held in the myths. There is much more to these fascinating creatures, in fact, I expect we may even see them again.

     
In the ancient myths, there is not one Fury, but three. These Furies were Justice and Vengeance to those who deserved punishment, or who needed to pay for something they had done. They literally were collectors of "The Price" paid by those who had done evil, or wrong. They always, no matter Greek or Roman stories, travel together as the group of three. They were seen as personified curses, and are often named Allecto (Endless), Tisiphone (Punishment), and Megaera (Jealous Rage). Disney fans will recall Megaera as the lead female in the animated Hercules, no doubt. In that film, of course, she had a bit of a different twist, but still was in the employ of Hades.

Fury origin tales vary. Some stories say they sprang from the blood of Uranus, God of the Sky. Other stories say they are the children of Nyx, the Night or Darkness. The Furies were understood to be in service to Hades and Persephone in the Underworld, bringing their victims across the river Styx and into Hell. They were considered goddesses, with an appearance that was terrifying. The Furies are depicted in mythological art and writings most often as winged women, with serpents entwined in their hair and around their bodies. However some artwork has them as beautiful, often a trio of lovely fates come for their payment.

     
The above painting is Oresties and The 3  done by the artist Moreau in 1891. It was a visual representation of a myth in which Oresties was sought by the Furies for killing his mother after she took part in the murder of his father, King Agamemnon. In the tale, the other gods saw this killing as just, and the Furies were overruled and not allowed to take Oresties to the Underworld. The Goddess Athena calmed their anger and gave them a place of honor in her city of Athens. It is from this point in mythology that they begin to be known as the Soothed Ones, or Eumenides. They became revered and were seen as protectors of Athens and of good people everywhere. Since they only enact a price and vengeance on those who deserve or owe it, they were no threat to the good people of the world. The Athenian festival Eumenidia was created to honor them.
​     
Because the Furies were also often seen as the Goddesses of Fate, they are often mentioned in an intertwining way with the Three Graces. The Three Graces and Three Furies are sometimes considered to be linked, perhaps even the same beings occasionally. While the Graces represent beauty, charm and goodness (which conflict with the Anger, Vengeance/Punishment and Jealousy of the Furies), it is interesting to see how they are two sides of a coin in that way. I personally find this a fantastic aspect of the mythology as on Once, in many ways, we have seen light and dark, two sides, within several characters throughout the previous seasons. 
​
          It would seem, within the Once Upon a Time worlds, the Furies are complex creatures that could easily fit among the lore. And with show creator Eddy Kitsis describing (cryptically) the next half of season 5 as "Hell", I can't help but wonder if he means literally, with the Furies heralding the way of their Underworld lord, Hades.