What winged female monster snatched people and stole food? The answer is the Harpy.
In Greek mythology, harpies were winged female creatures associated with storm winds. Their name is commonly connected with the idea of snatching or carrying away, fitting their role as swift, frightening robbers. Early artistic and literary descriptions varied: they could appear as beautiful winged maidens or as birdlike monsters with human faces, claws, and vulture-like features.
Their best-known story involves Phineus, a blind king of Thrace whom Zeus punished by placing before him a feast he could never eat. Whenever Phineus tried to dine, harpies swooped down, stole the food, or fouled it so that it became unusable. The Argonauts later helped him, when the winged brothers Zetes and Calais drove the harpies away.
Harpies are often confused with sirens. Sirens traditionally lured sailors with their voices, while harpies snatched food or people. The myth also explains the phrase “harpy” as a description of a predatory or grasping person.