The Pleiades (singular: Pleiad) (Ancient Greek: Πλειάδες singular: Πλειάς) were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. They were the sisters of Hyas, Calypso and the Hesperides and were companions of Artemis.
Etymology[]
Apparently from πλέω (pléō, “to sail”) because of the star cluster’s importance in delimiting the sailing season in the Mediterranean Sea: "the season of navigation began with their heliacal rising". The mythological sisters were probably named after the star cluster, rather than vice versa.
Mythology[]
Six of the seven sisters engaged in affairs with prominent gods (Zeus, Ares and Poseidon) while the last wed the mortal King Sisyphus of Ephyra.
- Alcyone, mother of Aethusa and Hyrieus by Poseidon
- Celaeno, mother of Eurytus and Lycus by Poseidon
- Electra, mother of Dardanus by Zeus
- Maia, mother of Hermes by Zeus
- Merope, mother of Ornytion and Glaucus by Sisyphus
- Sterope, mother of Oenomaus by Ares
- Taygete, mother of Lacedaemon by Zeus
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The Lost Pleiad
The sisters were transformed into stars by Zeus in order to save them from the unwanted attentions of Orion. However, one of the Pleiades eventually faded away, leaving six visible. In some myths, Electra fades away out of grief after Troy is destroyed and her descendants are killed, however other myths have Merope fade away, ashamed of her relationship with Sisyphus while her sisters had the attentions of gods.
Artemis and Taygete
In popular culture[]
- The star cluster is named after them
| Pleiades of Greek mythology | |
|---|---|
| Alcyone • Celaeno • Electra • Maîa • Merope • Sterope • Taygete | |