Periboea was a Naiad nymph of Sparta in Greek mythology, the wife of the Spartan king Icarius. She is most commonly named as the mother of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, along with several sons. The ancient sources disagree about Icarius's spouse, and Periboea is named alongside alternatives such as Polycaste, Dorodoche and Asterodia.
Adapted from Wikipedia, "Icarius (Spartan)" · CC BY-SA 4.0
I.Overview
Periboea appears in Greek mythology as a Naiad — a freshwater nymph — associated with Sparta in Lacedaemonia. She is known chiefly through her marriage to Icarius, a Spartan king and celebrated runner who was the father of Penelope.
Because Periboea is defined by this family role rather than by an independent myth, the fullest account of her is found within the tradition of Icarius and his household, where she is named as the mother of his children.
II.Family
Periboea was the wife of Icarius. The ancient sources differ on Icarius's own parentage — he is called the son of Perieres and Gorgophone in some accounts and of Oebalus and Bateia in others — and they make him the brother of Hippocoon and Tyndareus.
By the naiad Periboea, Icarius became the father of Penelope together with several sons: Perileos (Perilaus), Thoas, Damasippus, Imeusimus, Aletes and, in some accounts, Iphthime.
The maternity of these children is disputed, because Icarius's wife is variously named across the sources. Besides Periboea, his spouse is given as Polycaste (daughter of Lygaeus), said to have borne Penelope, Alyzeus and Leucadius; as Dorodoche (daughter of Ortilochus); and as Asterodia (daughter of Eurypylus), credited with children such as Polymelos, Damasiclus and Penelope. Periboea is the most frequently cited of these versions for the mother of Penelope.
III.Mythology
Periboea's husband Icarius was, with his brother Tyndareus, expelled from Lacedaemon by their half-brother Hippocoon, and the brothers withdrew into exile in Acarnania, beyond the Achelous River.
As a champion runner, Icarius would not allow a suitor to marry his daughter Penelope unless the suitor first beat him in a footrace. Odysseus won the contest and married her.
When Icarius tried to persuade the newlyweds to remain in Sparta and then followed them to beg Penelope to stay, Odysseus told her to choose between her father and her husband. Penelope did not answer but modestly covered her face with a veil. Understanding the gesture, Icarius let her go and erected a statue of Aidos (Modesty) on the spot.