Ephiny
Encyclopedia
Ephiny is a fictional character
from the hit television series Xena: Warrior Princess
and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
. She is portrayed by actress Danielle Cormack
.
warrior in the tribe led by Queen Melosa.
When we first see Ephiny she was setting to ambush Xena and Gabrielle, who had walked into amazon territory. It was interrupted by an attack by an unseen third party. When the Queen's sister Terreis was struck down by an arrow she gave her "Right of Caste" (right to become next in line to the Amazon throne) to Gabrielle, who tried to shield Terreis from the attack. Ephiny was the only witness to this just before Terreis' death. Ephiny at first didn't seem to like Gabrielle, but she grew close after seeing Gabrielle's friendly nature. In the episode "Hooves & Harlots" a warlord is shown trying to start a war between the centaurs and the amazons. It is later revealed that he was the one who ordered Terreis killed. During a raid Ephiny managed to capture a centaur named Phantes. He was thought to be the Terreis' killer. After Xena convinced Ephiny otherwise, both she and Ephiny put a stop to Phantes execution, and the oncoming war. The amazons discover the warlord's plot and he is executed by Queen Melosa. Ephiny eventually marries and becomes pregnant with Phantes' child. Phantes, however is killed trying to protect her. She gives birth via cesarian section and names her centaur son "Xenan", in honor of Xena for delivering her child.
When Xena is "killed" Ephiny catches up with Gabrielle. She convinces Gabrielle to give Xena a proper Amazon burial as Xena was spiritually an Amazon. She also tells Gabrielle about Queen Melosa's death at the hands of a rogue Amazon named Velasca
. She tries to convince Gabrielle to take up her right of caste to become her tribe's Amazon Queen as the only alternative for the tribe is to allow Velasca to take the throne. If this were to happen Velasca would start a war with the centaurs over territory. This would mean Ephiny and her son would have to leave the amazon village as outcasts. Once Xena is revived with ambrosia, Velasca is defeated. Gabrielle, of course, decides to leave with Xena, and gives Ephiny the right to be Queen. Ephiny accepts, but insists she is only queen until Gabrielle decides to reclaim the crown.
In the episode "Maternal Instincts" Ephiny stopped Callisto from trying to kill several village children by getting them to safety. When Hope's body and Solan's body were being buried, Ephiny sang the funeral song. In the episode "The Bitter Suite" we see Ephiny arguing with Joxer
about Gabrielle's safety. She tries to protect Gabrielle from Xena but gets her arm broken by Xena in the process. Ephiny next appears in the Hercules episode "Prodigal Sister" where she helps Hercules reunite a blind brother with his Amazon sister.
Ephiny leads the Amazons into battle in an attempt to stave off a Roman
invasion. During the battle she is killed by Brutus
, while she is protecting fellow Amazon Amarice
.
Her final appearance is as a ghost reaching out to Gabrielle to protect her son Xenan and his young pregnant wife Nicha. It is revealed that she is the daughter of Belach, who is the son of Borias
, Xena's former lover. With help from Xena and Gabrielle, Xenan and his wife are saved and freed to live together with their new son Borias, Ephiny's grandson.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the hit television series Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
. She is portrayed by actress Danielle Cormack
Danielle Cormack
Danielle Cormack is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She was one of the original core cast of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in...
.
History
Ephiny is a trusted AmazonAmazons
The Amazons are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia...
warrior in the tribe led by Queen Melosa.
When we first see Ephiny she was setting to ambush Xena and Gabrielle, who had walked into amazon territory. It was interrupted by an attack by an unseen third party. When the Queen's sister Terreis was struck down by an arrow she gave her "Right of Caste" (right to become next in line to the Amazon throne) to Gabrielle, who tried to shield Terreis from the attack. Ephiny was the only witness to this just before Terreis' death. Ephiny at first didn't seem to like Gabrielle, but she grew close after seeing Gabrielle's friendly nature. In the episode "Hooves & Harlots" a warlord is shown trying to start a war between the centaurs and the amazons. It is later revealed that he was the one who ordered Terreis killed. During a raid Ephiny managed to capture a centaur named Phantes. He was thought to be the Terreis' killer. After Xena convinced Ephiny otherwise, both she and Ephiny put a stop to Phantes execution, and the oncoming war. The amazons discover the warlord's plot and he is executed by Queen Melosa. Ephiny eventually marries and becomes pregnant with Phantes' child. Phantes, however is killed trying to protect her. She gives birth via cesarian section and names her centaur son "Xenan", in honor of Xena for delivering her child.
When Xena is "killed" Ephiny catches up with Gabrielle. She convinces Gabrielle to give Xena a proper Amazon burial as Xena was spiritually an Amazon. She also tells Gabrielle about Queen Melosa's death at the hands of a rogue Amazon named Velasca
Velasca
Velasca is a fictional character in the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. In her tenure on the show, she served time as the Amazon Queen after defeating her adoptive mother Queen Melosa for the crown. Also during her time as a deity, she dubs herself the "Goddess of Chaos"...
. She tries to convince Gabrielle to take up her right of caste to become her tribe's Amazon Queen as the only alternative for the tribe is to allow Velasca to take the throne. If this were to happen Velasca would start a war with the centaurs over territory. This would mean Ephiny and her son would have to leave the amazon village as outcasts. Once Xena is revived with ambrosia, Velasca is defeated. Gabrielle, of course, decides to leave with Xena, and gives Ephiny the right to be Queen. Ephiny accepts, but insists she is only queen until Gabrielle decides to reclaim the crown.
In the episode "Maternal Instincts" Ephiny stopped Callisto from trying to kill several village children by getting them to safety. When Hope's body and Solan's body were being buried, Ephiny sang the funeral song. In the episode "The Bitter Suite" we see Ephiny arguing with Joxer
Joxer
Joxer is a fictional character in the syndicated television series Xena: Warrior Princess, played by American actor Ted Raimi. He is a comical wanna-be warrior who styles himself "Joxer the Mighty", and later "Joxer the Magnificent"....
about Gabrielle's safety. She tries to protect Gabrielle from Xena but gets her arm broken by Xena in the process. Ephiny next appears in the Hercules episode "Prodigal Sister" where she helps Hercules reunite a blind brother with his Amazon sister.
Ephiny leads the Amazons into battle in an attempt to stave off a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
invasion. During the battle she is killed by Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus
Marcus Junius Brutus , often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his original name...
, while she is protecting fellow Amazon Amarice
Amarice
Amarice is a fictional character in the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. She is portrayed by the American actress Jennifer Sky.-Character history:...
.
Her final appearance is as a ghost reaching out to Gabrielle to protect her son Xenan and his young pregnant wife Nicha. It is revealed that she is the daughter of Belach, who is the son of Borias
Borias
Borias is a fictional character in the cult television program, Xena: Warrior Princess. He is portrayed by Marton Csokas.-Overview:The warlord Borias, possibly of Hunnish descent, plundered many cities and villages in ancient Greece alongside Xena. They had a passionate affair from which she became...
, Xena's former lover. With help from Xena and Gabrielle, Xenan and his wife are saved and freed to live together with their new son Borias, Ephiny's grandson.
Appearances
- "Hooves and Harlots" (Xena)
- "Is There a Doctor in the House?" (Xena)
- "The Quest" (Xena)
- "A Necessary Evil" (Xena)
- "Prodigal Sister" (Hercules)
- "Maternal Instincts" (Xena)
- "The Bitter Suite" (Xena)
- "Sky High" (Hercules)
- "Endgame" (Xena)
- "Last of the Centaurs" (Xena)