Poena

For the genus of moths, see Poena (moth).

In Greek mythology, Poena or Poine (Ancient Greek: Ποινή, romanized: Poinḗ, lit. 'recompense, punishment') is the spirit of punishment and the attendant of punishment to Nemesis,^[1] the goddess of divine retribution. Some depictions are of a single being, and some depictions are of multiple beings—in the plural, the name is Poenai (Ποιναί); the Poenai are akin to the Erinyes.^[2]

The Greek word ποινή (poinḗ) means "a recompense or a punishment". From this word is derived the Latin word poena meaning "pain, punishment, penalty", which in turn gave rise to English words such as subpoena and pain.^[3]