# Queen Sophonisba — The Worm Ouroboros character guide

> Queen Sophonisba in The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sophonisba, O Queen Sophonisba

**First appearance:** 0036-xxxiii-queen-sophonisba-in-galing

## Snapshot

A queen received at Galing with fanfares, hyacinths, and seven immortal mares, whose visit draws out the Demon lords' splendor, learning, and grief-shadowed hospitality.

## Who they are

Queen Sophonisba arrives as an honored guest among the lords of Demonland, and Juss himself guides her through lime avenues, herb gardens, and stables where the white sisters of Artemis burn with ichor-light. Her days of pleasure and wonder stand in quiet counterpoint to the war gathering beyond Demonland's borders, and the care lavished on her reveals what these warrior lords value and what they stand to lose. She matters as a measure of the world the Demons are fighting to preserve.

## In the story

### [Koshtra Belorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xiii-koshtra-belorn)

Appears as a youthful queen crowned with clouds, dwelling in Koshtra Belorn. She welcomes Juss and Brandoch Daha, but avoids speaking of Goldry, citing a prohibition.

### [XIV: The Lake of Ravary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xiv-the-lake-of-ravary)

Guides the Demons to the lake, gives the hippogriff's egg to Juss, warns of the forbidden mountain, nurses Juss and Brandoch Daha back to health, and receives the martlet's news of another egg.

### [Zora Rach Nam Psarrion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxviii-zora-rach-nam-psarrion)

Provides ambrosia, instructs Juss on the final remedy, and kisses Juss to pass the restorative kiss to Goldry.

### [Queen Sophonisba in Galing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/xxxiii-queen-sophonisba-in-galing)

Arrives in Demonland as a guest, marvels at the beauty of the land, and is perplexed by the Demonlords' sorrow after their victory.

### [Argument: With Dates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/chapters/argument-with-dates)

Entertains Juss and Brandoch Daha in Koshtra Belorn; furthers their designs; warns Juss against assaying Zora Rach on foot.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters/queen_sophonisba
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_worm_ouroboros_se/characters