Alekto

Alekto, also spelled Alecto, is a figure in ancient Greek mythology and one of the Erinyes, the Furies. The name Alekto is commonly understood to mean "unceasing" or "unceasing anger," derived from the Greek root alektos.

In classical sources, the Erinyes are three sisters: Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. Their origin is often given as daughters of Nyx (Night), though some traditions offer different parentage. They are chthonic deities associated with justice, vengeance, and the enforcement of moral order.

Role and function: Alekto is typically portrayed as the most implacable of the Furies, embodying relentless pursuit of guilt. She punishes crimes such as murder, oath-breaking, and perjury, ensuring that wrongdoers face consequences and that social and divine law is upheld. In myth and drama, the Furies operate as agents of conscience and retribution, pursuing those who violate sacred or familial norms.

Iconography and influence: In ancient art, the Furies are often depicted as winged women, sometimes with serpents in their hair and carrying symbols of punishment such as a whip or a torch. Alekto appears in various Greek tragedies and later Roman adaptations, where she exemplifies righteous, unyielding anger and vengeance. In modern times, the name Alekto/Alecto is used in literature and popular culture as a mythic motif or character reference.