Eurynomos (also spelled Eurynomus or Eurynomos) is a relatively obscure figure from Greek mythology, known primarily as a demon of the underworld associated with decay and the consumption of corpses. Unlike more prominent figures like Hades or Charon, Eurynomos doesn’t have an extensive mythology, but his role is eerie and macabre, tied to the dark aspects of death and the afterlife.

Description and Role

1. A Demon of Rot and Decay:
   • Eurynomos is described as a chthonic (underworld) demon, whose primary task is to consume the flesh of the dead. His role in the Greek underworld is grotesque—he feasts on the bodies of the deceased, leaving only their bones behind.
   • In some accounts, he is portrayed as stripping the flesh from corpses after their souls have descended to the underworld. This would suggest that Eurynomos plays a role in the natural process of decay, symbolizing how death strips away the body, leaving only the skeleton.
2. Appearance:
   • Eurynomos’ appearance is quite ghastly and unsettling. According to Pausanias, a 2nd-century Greek geographer who mentions Eurynomos in his “Description of Greece,” he is depicted as having the appearance of a blue-black demon, the color resembling rotting flesh or decay.
   • He is also described as being thin and skeletal, with features that evoke death, pestilence, and the process of decomposition. His teeth are sharp, and his body is covered in filth and putrescence, reinforcing his role as a devourer of flesh.
3. Mention by Pausanias:
   • Pausanias is one of the only classical sources to mention Eurynomos, specifically referring to a painting in Delphi where Eurynomos was depicted. In the painting, Eurynomos sits on a vulture’s skin, which symbolizes both death and scavenging, further emphasizing his connection to death and decay.
   • In Pausanias’ brief description, Eurynomos is placed within the context of the underworld, but he does not appear to have a major role in Greek myths outside this depiction.
4. Role in the Underworld:
   • While other underworld figures like Hades or Thanatos (the personification of death) are more well-known, Eurynomos exists on the periphery, focusing specifically on the grim aspect of physical decomposition after death.
   • Eurynomos’ role is more practical or mechanical, symbolizing the inevitable decay of the body once the soul departs for the underworld. He doesn’t preside over death itself but deals with the physical remnants of the dead.
5. Symbolism:
   • Eurynomos can be seen as a personification of decay or a spirit of entropy, reflecting the ancient Greek understanding of the natural process of death. In this context, he represents the unavoidable aspect of mortality—the destruction of the body after the soul leaves for the afterlife.
   • His association with carrion and scavenging likens him to creatures that feed on the dead, such as vultures, which are often seen as symbols of death and renewal.

Comparisons to Other Figures

1. Thanatos:
   • Unlike Thanatos, who is the peaceful bringer of death and the personification of death itself, Eurynomos is more concerned with what happens to the physical body after death. Thanatos brings the soul to the underworld, while Eurynomos is concerned with what’s left behind.
2. Hades:
   • Hades, the god of the underworld, oversees the entire domain of the dead, but he is more of a ruler or guardian of the souls. Eurynomos functions at a much lower level, dealing with the corporeal decay of the body rather than the spiritual aspects of death.
3. Charon:
   • Charon, the ferryman of the underworld, is responsible for transporting souls across the river Styx or Acheron, whereas Eurynomos deals with the physical remnants of death. Both are linked to the underworld, but Eurynomos has a far darker, more grotesque role.
4. Other Death-related Demons:
   • Eurynomos can be compared to other death-related demons or spirits in various mythologies, such as the ghouls of Arabian folklore, which also feed on the flesh of the dead. He occupies a similar space as these dark, scavenger-like figures that thrive in graveyards and desolate places.

Legacy and Interpretations

1. Obscurity:
   • Despite his horrifying role, Eurynomos is a relatively obscure figure, only appearing in a handful of sources. His role as a demon of decay places him at the fringes of Greek mythology, where other chthonic figures are far more prominent.
2. Influence on Later Myths:
   • Eurynomos may have influenced later depictions of underworld demons or corpse-eating spirits in European folklore and literature. His role as a consumer of corpses can be seen as a precursor to the imagery of ghouls and other deathly creatures in later traditions.
3. Art and Representation:
   • Eurynomos is mainly known from Pausanias’ description of a painting in Delphi, where he sits on the skin of a vulture. While there are few surviving depictions of him in ancient art, his ghastly appearance and role make him a memorable, albeit minor, figure in the Greek mythological canon.

Conclusion

Eurynomos is a dark and enigmatic figure from Greek mythology, representing the decay and destruction of the physical body after death. Though not widely known or featured in many myths, his role as a demon of the underworld places him in the shadowy realm of death, dealing with the corporeal aspects of mortality. His grotesque appearance and role as a consumer of the dead connect him to the darker, more sinister side of the ancient Greek understanding of death and the afterlife.