The Furies (or Erinyes, sing. Erinys) were creatures from Greek mythology who exacted divine retribution from those guilty of wrong-doing. Crimes which were especially likely to incur their wrath were those involving one's family and anything related to oaths. The Furies were also responsible for carrying out curses, and the punishments they dealt out included disease and madness. From the 5th century BCE they are sometimes referred to by the euphemistic title 'the Gracious Ones' or Eumenides.
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