(strictly, the gracious goddesses), an euphemistic appellation of the Furies. See FURIES.

EUMOLPIDÆ (Sweet-singers), the family of the priests of Demeter at Athens and Eleusis. They are said to have been descended from Eumolpus, a Thracian warrior and bard, the son of Neptune and Chione. Having been thrown into the sea by his mother, he was rescued by Neptune and educated in Ethiopia, whence he was expelled along with Iasmus his son, and fled to the court of the Thracian king Teyrius. From Thrace he found it necessary to escape to Eleusis, where having joined the Eleusinians in a war with Athens, he was slain in battle along with his two sons. According to another account, he lived to preside over the Eleusinian mysteries which had been communicated to him by the goddess; and being succeeded in office by his son, the sacred duties continued ever afterwards to be discharged by members of his family. As sacrificial officers the hierophant and his attendants were distinguished by a particular dress; and besides attending to the celebration of the mysteries they were also entrusted with the dispensation of that traditionary law which regulated the punishment of religious offences. Occasionally they offered up the public prayers of the nation, and at the command of the people they gave utterance to the public curse imprecated upon political offenders. See MYSTERIES, and ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES.