Iambe

Iambē, ēs, f. , île de la mer Rouge : Plin. 6, 168.

Iambé

(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.

Iambe Iambe, her jokes with Demeter

• Apollod. 1.5.1