Do Stheno and Euryale exist in this Roman version?
They do. In all versions, they are different than their sister Medusa in that they are true immortals.
The Gorgons Stheno and Euryale were immortal, whereas their Gorgon sister Medusa was mortal.[8] The only story involving them is their pursuit of Perseus after he had beheaded Medusa. The Hesiodic Shield of Heracles (c. late seventh – mid sixth century BC) describes the two Gorgons’ pursuit of Perseus, as depicted on Heracles’ shield:
Perseus himself, Danae’s son, was outstretched, and he looked as though he were hastening and shuddering. The Gorgons, dreadful and unspeakable, were rushing after him, eager to catch him; as they ran on the pallid adamant, the shield resounded sharply and piercingly with a loud noise. At their girdles, two serpents hung down, their heads arching forward; both of them were licking with their tongues, and they ground their teeth with strength, glaring savagely. Upon the terrible heads of the Gorgons rioted great Fear.[9]
While the “great Fear” rioting upon the heads of the Gorgon, in the passage from the Shield quoted above, might possibly be a vague reference to hair made of snakes, the poet Pindar makes such a physical feature explicit, describing the two Gorgons, just like their sister Medusa, as having “horrible snakey hair” (ἀπλάτοις ὀφίων κεφαλαῖς).[10]
According to Apollodorus’ version of their story, all three Gorgons had the ability to turn to stone anyone who looked upon them. And when Perseus managed to behead Medusa by looking at her reflection in his bronze shield, Stheno and Euryale chased after him, but were unable to see him because he was wearing Hades’ cap, which made him invisible.[11]
Euryale’s lamenting cry, while chasing Perseus, is noted in two sources. Pindar has Athena create the “many-voiced songs of flutes” to imitate the “shrill cry” of the “fast-moving jaws of Euryale”.[12] While Nonnus, in his Dionysiaca, has the fleeing Perseus “listening for no trumpet but Euryale’s bellowing”.[13]
They do. In all versions, they are different than their sister Medusa in that they are true immortals.