Cornix

In Greek and Roman mythology, Cornix is a character in Ovid's Metamorphoses.[1] She was a princess and the daughter of Coronaeus.

Neptune and Cornix, 1724, by Vieira Lusitano

Mythology

One day as Cornix was walking by the seashore, Neptune (Poseidon) saw her and attempted to seduce her. When his efforts failed he attempted rape, and Cornix fled, crying out to men and gods, and while no man heard her, "the virgin goddess feels pity for a virgin": Pallas Athena transformed her into a crow. She also cites her resentment that her place as Minerva's servant is being taken over by Nyctimene transformed into the owl, where the transformation was punitive.[2]

John Gower took up the tale for use in his Confessio Amantis, with particular emphasis on her delight in her escape:

With feathers of a coaly black,
Out of his arms, like bolt from bow,
She flew in likeness of a crow:
And this, to her, was more delight -
To keep her maiden treasure white
Beneath a feather cloak of black -
Than, pearly-skinned, to lose and lack
What never can return again.[3]

See also

References
  1. Ovid, Metamorphoses, 2.569-88
  2. Hyginus, Fabulae, 204, 253
  3. Gower, John (1963). Confessio amantis (The lover's shrift : Gower, John : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming. pp. 206–207.


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