Autonoë

Autonoë is a figure from Greek mythology, primarily known as a daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. Her parentage is consistent across various ancient sources, including Hesiod's Theogony and Apollodorus' Bibliotheca. Autonoë was the sister of Semele, Ino, Agave, and Polydorus.

She married Aristaeus, a god of beekeeping, cheese-making, olive growing, and hunting, and together they had a son named Actaeon. Actaeon is famously known for his tragic encounter with the goddess Artemis, who transformed him into a stag, after which he was hunted and killed by his own hounds. This event is a significant narrative in Ovid's Metamorphoses.

The story of Autonoë is often intertwined with the fates of her family members, who faced numerous divine interventions and tragic circumstances. Her lineage connects her to the founding of Thebes through her father Cadmus, who was sent to find his sister Europa. Autonoë herself is not a central figure in most myths but plays a role in the genealogical and familial context of other prominent mythological characters. She is mentioned in connection with the Bacchae, as Agave, another sister, famously killed her own son Pentheus in a Dionysian frenzy. The mythology surrounding Autonoë highlights the often harsh and interconnected destinies of the ruling families in ancient Greek legends.