Nereids
For the moon of the planet Neptune, see Nereid (moon).In
Greek mythology, the
Nereids (NEER-ee-eds) are blue-haired sea
nymphs, the fifty daughters of
Nereus and
Doris. They often accompany
Poseidon and are always friendly and helpful towards sailors fighting perilous storms. They are associated with the
Mediterranean Sea. The most notable of them is
Thetis, wife of
Peleus and mother of
Achilles; and
Amphitrite, wife of
Poseidon.
In
Iliad XVIII, when Thetis cries out in sympathy for the grief of
Achilles for the slain
Patroclus, "there gathered round her every goddess, every Nereid that was in the deep salt sea.
Glauce was there and
Thaleia and
Cymodoce;
Nesaea,
Speio,
Thoe and ox-eyed
Halie;
Cymothoe,
Actaee and
Limnoreia;
Melite,
Iaera,
Amphithoe and
Agaue;
Doto,
Proto,
Pherusa and
Dynamene;
Dexamene,
Amphinome and
Callianeira;
Doris,
Panope and far-sung
Galatea;
Nemertes,
Apseudes and
Callianassa.
Clymene came too, with
Ianeira,
Ianassa,
Maera,
Oreithuia,
Amatheia of the lovely locks, and other Nereids of the salt sea depths. The silvery cave was full of nymphs" (
E.V. Rieu, translator).
Names of Nereids:
*
Amphitrite*
Arethusa*
Dynamene*
Galatea*
Lotis*
Lycorias*
Melite*
Panopea*
Pherusa*
Psamathe*
Thetis*
Thoosa