Rhode or Rhodos (Ancient Greek: Ῥόδη or Ῥόδος) is a naiad nymph in Greek mythology. She is the daughter of Poseidon, and, depending on the account, either Aphrodite or Halia.
Etymology[]
The name Rhodos or Rhode is relate to the similar-sounding ῥόδον (rhódon) in ancient Greek which was the word for the rose, whilst in modern Greek the also similar-sounding ρόδι (ródi) or ρόιδο (róido) refers to the pomegranate.
The Island of Rhodes is named after her.
Mythology[]
The poet Pindar tells the story, that when the gods drew lots for the places of the earth, Helios being absent received nothing. He complained to Zeus about it, who offered to make the division again. Helios refused, for he had seen a new island about to rise from the sea. So Helios, with Zeus' consent, claimed a new island (Rhodes), which had not yet risen from the sea. And after it rose from the sea he lay with her and produced seven sons. According to another source, it was Helios himself who caused the water overflowing the island to disappear, and after that he named this island "Rhodes" after Rhodos.
Family[]
By Helios, Rhodos was the mother of the Heliadae, who succeeded the Telkhines as rulers of Rhodes. According to Pindar, Rhodos had, by Helios, seven sons. Pindar does not name the sons, but according to Diodorus Siculus, the Heliadae were Ochimus, Cercaphus, Actis, Macar (i.e. Macareus), Candalus, Triopas, and Tenages. Diodorus Siculus also says that Helios and Rhodos had one daughter, Electryone.
She is the ancestress of Prote, as well as Lindus, Camirus, and Ialysus, by Helios or Poseidon depending on the version of the myth.