The Pleiades – The Celestial Nymphs Who Transformed into Stars

The Pleiades, best known as a cluster of stars in the night sky, are some of the most well-known Nymphs. These stars are frequently associated with the celestial nymphs Pleiades, the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. The Pleiades play an important role in Greek mythology as Artemis’ companions and Dionysus’ nurturers. Let’s learn more about the seven sister-nymphs who have inspired Greek mythology for centuries.

The Pleiades – Key Facts

Name and Etymology

The name Pleiades has two possible meanings. The name derives from Pleiades’ mother, Pleione. In this case, it simply means “the daughters of Pleione.” Another theory is that Pleiades comes from the Greek word πλεῖv (/pleen/), which means to sail. This makes more sense, given how important the Pleiades star cluster was to sailors. It actually defined the sailing season; as soon as they appeared above the eastern horizon at dawn, just before sunrise (a phenomenon known as heliacal rising), the sailing season began.

The nymphs were also referred to by different names. They were called the Seven Sisters because there were seven of them. Other names were used to describe the Pleiades and their sisters, the Hyades, or rain nymphs. They were known as Atlantides because they were Atlas’ daughters, Dodonides after the mountain Dodoni, and Nysiades after the mythical mountain Nysa.

Origin of the Pleiades 

The Pleiades are the daughters of Atlas, the mighty Titan responsible for holding up the heavens, and Pleione, an Oceanid who oversaw flock multiplication. Another account states that their mother was another Oceanid named Aethra.

Mount Cyllene may have been the birthplace of the Pleiades. Their siblings included the nymphs of rain, Hyades, and the famous nymph Calypso, who played an important role in Homer’s Odyssey. They were sometimes referred to as half-sisters to the Hesperides, Atlas’ daughters, and morning star nymphs.

The Pleiades’ love interests continue to be an intriguing subject. Most notably, they piqued the interest of the hunter Orion, who pursued them relentlessly. We’ll go over the myth of Orion below. They gave birth to numerous heroes and gods, including the god Hermes, Dardanus, Lycus and Nycteus, Glaucus, and others.

Names of the Pleiades

The Pleiades, as we mentioned, were seven sisters: Maia, Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Merope, Sterope, and Taygete. 

Maia

Maia, literally meaning “midwife”, was the eldest of the seven Pleiades. Maia slept with Zeus and became pregnant with the god Hermes. 

Maia was associated with growth in ancient Roman religion and mythology, and her name is derived from the Latin adjective maius, which means “greater”. Maia was associated with Earth (Terra) and the Good Goddess (Bona Dea), as well as other deities like Fauna, Ops, Juno, and the Magna Mater. 

The month of May (Maius) was named in her honor, and the first day featured rituals related to Earth fertility, including sacrifices made by Vulcan’s flamen. Maia’s son, Mercury, was central to May celebrations, connecting her to themes of prosperity and growth in Roman culture.

Alcyone

Alcyone was a Pleiad who took Poseidon as her consort. They had multiple children together, including Hyrieus, Hyperenor, Aethusa, Anthas, and possibly Epopeus. She also had a relationship with a mortal named Anthedon, and together they gave birth to the marine god Glaucus.

The name Alcyone possible refers to alkyon, a seabird that sings a mournful song. Folk etymology also related the name to hals (brine, sea) and kyeo (to conceive).

Calaeno

Calaeno was a Pleiad whose name literally means “the dark one”. She was also a consort of Poseidon. Celeano’s children included Lycus, Nycteus, King Eurypylus, and Lycaon.

Electra

Electra, which means “amber,” was one of the Pleiades and lived in Samothrace. She was Zeus’ consort, and they had two children: Dardanus, who founded the Trojan line, and Iasion, who founded Samothrace’s mystic rites.

Electra also plays a role in the Palladium legend, which tells of a talisman that protected Troy.

Merope

Merope, whose name means “mortal,” was the only one of the Pleiades to marry a mortal. Merope married Sisyphus and moved to the island of Chios. Their children included Ornytion, Almus, Glaucus, and Thersander. 

Merope is called the “lost Pleiad” because, unlike her sister stars, she wasn’t charted from the start. She shines as the faintest star, either because she married a mortal or felt ashamed of it.

Sterope

Sterope or Asterope, which literally means “lightning,” was one of the Pleiades. According to some accounts, she was Ares’ consort, and together they gave birth to Oenomaus and Evenus. Other accounts state that she was Oenomaus’ wife.

Taygete

Taygete was one of the Pleiades who was a named companion of Artemis. She had the role of potnia theron, which means “Mistress of the Animals”. Her haunt was Mount Taygetos in the Peloponnese, which was named after her.

Taygete and Zeus had a son together, Lacedaemon, the mythical founder of Sparta. In other accounts, Taygete was the wife of Lacedaemon, and their children were Himerus and Eurotas.

Myths about the Pleiades

The Hunt of Orion 

In one of the most well-known stories about nymphs, the Pleiades were pursued by hunter Orion. The Giant Hunter Orion fell in love with them and pursued them, intending to kidnap them. The pursuit lasted five years, until the Pleiades fled to the god Zeus, who transformed them into doves and then into a constellation to save them. 

Orion, however, followed them into the sky as a constellation. Thus, the Pleiades, who preceded him in the sky, are always one step ahead of Orion, falling into the sea to escape him.

The Catasterism of the Pleiades

The most memorable myth about the Pleiades is the myth that discusses their catasterism, how they literally turned into stars. One version of the story is the one mentioned above, in which Zeus transformed the sisters into stars to avoid Orion.

Another version of the myth states that the Pleiades turned into stars after killing themselves. This incident could have occurred after Atlas was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders.

The Pleiades would “flee mighty Orion and plunge into the misty deep” as they set in the West, beginning just before dawn in October and November. Hesiod believed this was important for both navigation and agriculture.

Electra and the Palladium

Electra appears in two notable myths. In one story, she is linked to the Palladium, a sacred statue of Pallas Athena who is worshipped as Troy’s protector. According to Apollodorus, Electra sought refuge at the statue to avoid Zeus’ wrath, but Zeus angrily threw it from the sky. The statue landed near Troy, where Ilus, the city’s founder, discovered it and built a temple to commemorate it. In another version, Electra gave the statue to Dardanus as a safeguard for Troy.

Only six of the constellation’s seven stars are visible. Electra, grieving over the fall of Troy, turned away in sorrow, while others claim she mourned by letting down her hair, creating the image of a “long-haired star,” much like a comet.

Taygete and Artemis

Taygete was originally the local deity of the mountain range of Mount Taygetos in Laconia (where she often hunted) and belonged to the suite of the goddess Artemis, with whom she is frequently associated. 

According to another source, Taygete escaped Zeus. While conquering the local nymphs one by one, Zeus began to court Taygete, who in turn sought Artemis’ assistance. The goddess transformed Taygete into a golden-antlered deer or doe.

Depictions, Characteristics and Symbols

Artists often depict the Pleiades as ethereal maidens, renowned for their enchanting and otherworldly beauty. They frequently show them wearing flowing garments, with their hair adorned with stars or floral wreaths.

Their personalities vary from nurturing to elusive. In some myths, they help humans gain wisdom, while in others, they are distant.

The Pleiades are associated with celestial motifs like stars and flowers. Of course, their most visible symbol is the constellation itself. Other symbols include animals such as deer and doves.

The Pleiades in the Arts

For centuries, the Pleiades, like numerous nymphs, have served as the focal point of artistic depictions. Some of the most well-known artistic depictions of the seven sisters include Elihu Vedder’s “The Pleiades” and William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s “L’Etoile Perdue.”

Many of the ancient texts mention the Pleiades. Including Hesiod’s Works and Days, Homer’s The Iliad, and Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Fasti. Sappho’s Midnight Poem, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Lord Tennyson’s Locksley Hall, Robert Frost’s Evening in a Sugar Orchard, John Keats’ Hymn to Apollo, and Edgar Allan Poe’s Serenade all mention the Pleiades.

Frequently Asked Questions

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