Mythology/Culture: Greek Mythology
Time Period: Unknown
Physical Description: At first, Harpies were denoted as beautiful women that were winged. Later on, they were seen as ugly, evil creatures. These creatures were large, disgusting birds that were known for their vile ways. They had the faces of women.

History: Sometimes, harpies would carry people off to the underworld. There, they would torment their hapless victems. These birds, noted to be robbers, once stole the food from King Phineus. Calias and Zetes helped to rid them from the land.

Stories/Denoted Characters:
Aello was the Storm Swift of the three main harpies. She was charged, by the gods of Greece, to carry out the punishments for crimes. Many saw her as an ugly old women with the body of a bird. She had tremendously sharp talons. She was the "Howler", and the sign of whirl whinds.

Celaeno - "the Dark" - was the lover of Zephyrus. She was mother to Xanthus and Balius. Her other name was Podarge - "fleet foot". She was know to be the personification of heavily clouded skies.

Ocypete, or "the Swiftwing", aided storm winds.

Bibliography
Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology
Greek Mythology: Harpies
The Harpies...of Greek Mythology
Harpies, a Look in Detail