Poena

{{Short description|Greek mythological figure}}

{{For |the genus of moths |Poena (moth){{!}}Poena (moth)}}

In Greek mythology, Poena or Poine ({{Langx|grc|Ποινή|Poinḗ|recompense, punishment}}) is the spirit of punishment and the attendant of punishment to Nemesis,{{cite web | url=http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/user/irwin/nemesis.html | title=Nemesis | publisher=University of Oxford | access-date=2013-04-08 | author=Irwin, Patrick | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002053525/http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/user/irwin/nemesis.html | archive-date=2010-10-02 }} the goddess of divine retribution. Some depictions are of a single being, and some depictions are of multiple beings—in the plural, the name is Poenai ({{lang|grc|Ποιναί}}); the Poenai are akin to the Erinyes.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=poena-bio-1 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Poena] {{source-attribution}}

The Greek word {{Lang|grc|ποινή}} ({{lang|la|poinḗ}}) means "a recompense or a punishment". From this word is derived the Latin word poena meaning "pain, punishment, penalty", which in turn gave rise to English words such as subpoena and pain.{{cite web | url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=penal&allowed_in_frame=0 | title=Penal - Etymology | publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary | access-date=2013-04-08 | author=Harper, Douglas}}