Despoina

Despoina (Δέσποινα) is a Greek word meaning "mistress" or "lady." It is derived from the ancient Greek words des-potis (δεσπότης), meaning "master" or "lord," and the feminine suffix -ina. The term carries connotations of authority, ownership, and respect.

In ancient Greek religion, Despoina was a title applied to various goddesses, particularly those associated with mystery cults and chthonic (underworld) deities. Most famously, it was the secret name of a goddess worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in the Arcadian Mysteries. The actual name of this Despoina was deliberately kept secret from the uninitiated. According to Pausanias, she was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon Hippios. Her cult was centered at Lycosura in Arcadia.

The term "Despoina" also appears in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) as a translation for words denoting female superiors, mistresses, or noblewomen. In modern Greek, "despoina" can be used as a polite form of address for a woman, similar to "madam" or "miss." The term can also be used to refer to a queen or other female ruler.