NYOBE. Niobe, Tantalus's daughter and wife of Amphion of Thebes, boasted that she was just as much a goddess as Latona, Apollo's mother. She had seven sons and seven daughters, while the goddess had only two, Apollo and Diana. Thereupon Latona's children slew all of Niobe's children. Niobe was inconsolable and wept continually. Jupiter changed her into a statue that weeps in summer (Met VI.146-312; OM VI.973-1378). Dante makes Niobe a symbol of defeated pride and places her in Circle One of Purgatory, where she weeps over her dead children, Purg XII.37-39.

Pandarus compares Troilus to the weeping Nyobe, whose marble statue they have both seen, Tr I.699-700. Troilus replies that he wants no examples from old books, for he knows nothing of Queen Nyobe, Tr I.759.

Nyobe, the OF variant, occurs once medially, Tr I.699, and once in final rhyming position, Tr I.759.