Meaning & History
Means "dusky" or "grey" in Greek, from φαιός (phaios). This is the name of the Crommyonian Sow, a mythological pig slain by Theseus. Some versions of the story say that this was the name of the old woman who owned the sow, which was named after her. Plutarch reports that Phaia may have actually been a murderous female bandit slain by Theseus, and who had received the nickname of 'sow' due to her uncouth habits.