Despoina

Etymology
The word Despoina -mistress- is derived from the Mycenean Greek *des-potnia (from PIE *dems-potni meaning "absolute ruler"). The masculine form is δεσπότης, from *dems-pota-, related to *potis (lord, powerful). Related words are the Mycenean Greek potnia and Posedao (Poseidon).

Greek mythology
In Greek mythology, Despoina, Despoena or Despoine, was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon and sister of Arion. She was the goddess of mysteries of Arcadian cults and she was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter.

In the myth, Demeter was searching for her lost daughter Persephone when Poseidon saw and desired her. To avoid him, she took the form of a mare, but he took the form of a stallion and forced his attentions on her. From this union Despoina was born, as was the fabulous horse Arion. Due to her anger at this turn of events, Demeter took on the epithet Erinys, or raging.

Despoina became war-shipped in an important sanctuary at Lykosoura west to the town of Megalopolis. The altars of both of the Goddesses, Despoilment and Demeter, were placed in the front of the Dorian temple of Despoina. In the portico there was a tablet with the inscriptions of the mysteries. There was also an altar of Poseidon Hippios (horse). Despoine was her surname among the many, just as they surnamed Demeter's daughter by Zeus Kore (the maid). Therefore she was a Chthonian deity and her character resembled Persephone's one.

Epithet
Despoina was also used as an epithet for several goddesses, especially Aphrodite, Persephone, Demeter and Hecate. Persephone (the maid) and Demeter were the goddesses of the Eleusinian mysteries,identified as the two potniai (mistresses) in a Linear B inscription at Pylos. At Olympia they were called Despoine (:the mistresses). These epithets may recall the mistress of the labyrinth (or the lady: potnia) who presised over the palace of Kronos.

Other Uses

 * In Byzantine Greek 'despoilment' was a feminine court title meaning "lady", while the masculine 'despotes' meant "lord".


 * In Orthodox church the title "despoina" is given to the Mother of God.


 * In Modern Greek the title "despoinis" means "Miss" and can be used to address young ladies and waitresses amongst others.


 * Despina, a satellite of Neptune, was named after the goddess Despoina.