Lyssa
| Lyssa | |
|---|---|
Goddess of rage and madness | |
Lyssa depicted as a winged figure, surrounded by a nimbus and wielding a goad. Apulian red-figure kalyx-krater, c. 360–350 BC. | |
| Animals | Dog |
| Mount | Chariot |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | |
| Siblings | Thanatos, Hypnos, Erinyes, several more |
| Equivalents | |
| Roman | Ira, Rabies |
In Greek mythology, Lyssa (/ˈlɪsə/, LEE-sə; Ancient Greek: Λύσσα, romanized: Lússa, lit. 'rage, rabies'), also called Lytta (/ˈlɪtə/; Λύττα) in Attic Greek, is a minor goddess and the spirit of rage, fury, and rabies in animals. In myth, Lyssa is often portrayed driving people insane and leading them to their doom, and would occasionally be portrayed as a dog.
She was closely related to Mania, the personification of various forms of madness and insanity. Because of their close connection and the uncertainty over whether they are the same figure, twins, or distinct personifications, Lyssa and Mania are often confused with one another, although both are generally presumed to be daughters of Nyx. Her Roman equivalents were variously named Ira, Furor, or Rabies. Sometimes she was multiplied into a host of Irae and Furores.
The viral genus Lyssavirus, which includes the causative agent of rabies, was named after this goddess.