Praxithea

For the genus of beetles, see Praxithea (beetle).

In Greek mythology, Praxithea (/ˌpræɡˈzɪθiə/; Ancient Greek: Πραξιθέα) was a name attributed to five women.

• Praxithea, a Naiad nymph. She married Erichthonius of Athens and by him had a son named Pandion I. Praxithea's sister Zeuxippe married her nephew Pandion, and to them were born Erechtheus, Butes, Procne and Philomela.^[1] She was also called Pasithea.
• Praxithea, an Athenian daughter of Phrasimus and Diogeneia, daughter of the river-god Cephissus. She became queen of Athens after marrying King Erechtheus by whom she Cecrops, Pandorus, Metion,^[2] Protogeneia, Pandora, Procris, Creusa, Oreithyia and Chthonia.^[3] Praxithea's other possible children were Orneus,^[4] Thespius,^[5] Eupalamus,^[6] Sicyon^[7] and Merope.^[8]
• Praxithea, the woman that cried out when she saw Demeter holding Metanira's son Demophon in the fires, thus preventing him from becoming immortal.^[9]
• Praxithea (or Phrasithea), daughter of Leos.^[10] Along with her sisters, Theope and Eubule, she sacrificed herself in order to save Athens. In another version, their father was the one who offered them up to sacrifice. A precinct called the Leocorium was dedicated to the worship of these three maidens at Athens.^[11]
• Praxithea, a Thespian princess as one of the 50 daughters of King Thespius and Megamede^[12] or by one of his many wives.^[13] When Heracles hunted and ultimately slew the Cithaeronian lion,^[14] Praxithea and her other sisters, except for one,^[15] all lay with the hero in a night,^[16] a week^[17] or for 50 days^[18] as their father strongly desired.^[19] Praxithea bore Heracles a son, Nephus.^[20]