# Belphebe — The Faerie Queene character guide

> Belphebe in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Belphœbe, the faire Belphebe

**First appearance:** 0054-canto-vi

## Who they are

A chaste huntress whose fierce independence and radiant beauty embody a virtue that both attracts and resists the world's desires.

## In the story

### [A Letter to Sir Walter Raleigh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/a-letter-to-sir-walter-raleigh)

Spenser uses Belphoebe to shadow the virtuous and beautiful lady aspect of Queen Elizabeth, naming her after Cynthia.

### [Canto III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iii)

Appears as a huntress, rebukes Braggadocchio's vanity and lust, and flees into the woods.

### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v)

Belphebe discovers the wounded Timias, rescues him, and uses a magical herb to heal his injuries.

### [Canto VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vi)

Born miraculously from Chrysogonee, raised by Diana's nymph in perfect maidenhood.

### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii)

Hunts and kills the savage monster with her arrows, rescues Amoret and Æmylia, then flees in anger upon seeing Timias with Amoret.

### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii)

Her stern look had daunted the Squire; she is led by the turtle dove to find him.

### [Canto X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x)

The widow mother who lost twelve of her seventeen sons to Geryoneo; she is rescued by Arthur.

### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v)

Referenced as having restored her favor to Timias prior to the events of this canto.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/belphebe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters