by Rani Calderon (guest)
9/26/2003, 10:55 AM
I am very much interested in the question, and have not found much information so far.
However, Robert Graves, in his book on Greek Myths, gives the possible interpretation of Niobe as "Snowy". This might be somehow related to latin NIVEUS, which is the color of snow and Nive(m), which is snow. There is an interpretation of the myth as symoblising the destruction of the powers of winter (Niobe and her children) by the powers of the sun (Apollon and Artemis). There could also be some connection with the eternal weeping of Niobe.