Pyrrhus (mythology)

In Nonnus's fifth-century AD epic poem the Dionysiaca, Pyrrhus (Πύρρος) is a minor figure who was punished by the goddess Rhea for his assault of her. His short story is only mentioned in passing.

Etymology
The Greek proper name Πύρρος means "fiery, red-coloured" and it is derived from the word πῦρ meaning fire, flame. It was especially used to denote red hair. In Mycenaean Greek the name is attested as pu-wo (Linear B: ).

Mythology
The little-known and otherwise unattested Pyrrhus was a mortal man from Phrygia who lusted after the goddess Rhea, the mother of the gods, and tried to assault her. Rhea changed him into a stone immediately for his hubris. This happened not far from the site of Niobe's own transformation into a rock after she challenged another goddess, Leto. Pyrrhus's transformation into stone is part of a wider typical theme where a man is punished for his lust that led him to assault a goddess, in this case Rhea.