Iambe

(Ἰάμβη), a Thracian woman, daughter of Pan and Echo, and a slave of Metaneira, the wife of Hippothoon. Others call her a slave of Celeus. The extravagant hilarity displayed at the festivals of Demeter in Attica was traced to her; for it is said that, when Demeter, in her wanderings in search of her daughter, arrived in Attica, Iambe cheered the mournful goddess by her jokes, (Hom. Hymn. in Cer. 202; Apollod. 1.5.1; Diod. 5.4; Phot. Bibl. Cod. 239. p. 319, ed. Bekker; Schol. ad Nicand. Alexiph. 134.) She was believed to have given the name to Iambie poetry; for some said that she hung herself in consequence of the cutting speeches in which she had indulged, and others that she had cheered Demeter by a dance in the Iambic metre. (Eustath. ad Hom p. 1684.) [L.S]

(Ἰάμβη). A Thracian servant-maid of Metanira, wife of Celeus, king of Eleusis, who succeeded by her tricks and jests in making Demeter (q.v.) smile when the goddess was full of distress at the loss of her daughter (Apollod.i.5.1). She was the daughter of Pan and Echo. From Iambé, the metrical foot known as the iambus (˘¯) gets its name, as being light and adapted to playful themes. Such, at any rate, was the tradition, but the story of Iambé is of probably later date than the nomenclature of the verse.

• Apollod. 1.5.1