The Graeae


The Graeae were a trio of ancient goddesses sisters in Greek mythology. They were depicted as three old gray women sometimes they are shown as being half swan. They were called Deino

(Dread), Enyo (Horror) and Persephredo (Alarm). The Graeae were the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto and sisters of the Gorgons. They were said that they had the wisdom dating from to primordial days of the Titans. They symbolized old age and were born as old women.

They had only one eye and tooth which they shared among them in order to protect their sisters the Gorgons...The hero Perseus stole the eye, as they passed it to each other and held is as a ransom they were forced to reveal to him where the objects that he needed to kill Medusa were to be found. When he had the answer he did not return it but threw it into a lake and set forth to continue his adventure.

In one myth it has said that the Gaeae witnessed the abduction of Persephone but did not interfere The Goddess Demeter then transformed them into the old gray hags.