HARPY
Greek Mythology
Roman Mythology
Originally Wind Spirits
Later became Demons
In classical Greek and Roman mythology the Harpies were originally wind SPIRITS personifying the storm winds, hurricanes, and whirlwinds, and later transformed to the role of vengeful hideous demons or fiends. There are various accounts of their origins: They are the daughters of THAUMAS and ELECTRA, or the daughters of NEPTUNE and TERRA, or the daughters of TYPHON and ECHIDNA. Their number also varies from one to five according to the author. Homer mentions PODARGE, meaning swift-foot; Hesoid mentions AELLO, meaning swift as the storm, and OCYPETE, meaning swift flying; and other mention CELENO, KELIANO, meaning black, and AELLOPUS, meaning storm-footed. They are described as having bird bodies with the heads and torsos of ugly women, bears’ ears. And human arms with talons for fingers. They were not only ugly but foul smelling, and they contaminated whatever they touched. The HARPEIES feature in the tales of Jason and the Argonauts, who eventually help bring about the demise of these demonic creatures.
Source: Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins Encyclopedia