Nereids: Encyclopedia - Nereids

Nereids

• Poseidon
• Oceanus
• Ceto
• Nereus
• Glaucus
• Thetis
• Amphitrite
• Tethys

• Triton
• Proteus
• Phorcys
• Pontus
• Oceanids
• Nereids
• Naiads

• Dryads
• Naiads
• Meliae
• Oreads
• Napaeae
• Nereids

• Hamadryads
• Oceanids
• Limnades
• Crinaeae
• Hesperides
• Pegaeae

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
• Panopea
• Pherusa
• Psamathe
• Thetis
• Thoosa

Category: Nymphs

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Nereids", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki