View source for Astronomy:Pleiades (Greek mythology)

{{Short description|Celestial nymphs in Greek mythology}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = The Pleiades
| abode = Mt. Cyllene on Arcadia
| parents = (a) [[Religion:Atlas (mythology)|Atlas]] and (b) [[Unsolved:Pleione (mythology)|Pleione]] or<br>(c) [[Unsolved:Aethra (mythology)|Aethra]]
| siblings = {{Collapsible list
 | title = (a,b,c) [[Astronomy:Hyades (mythology)|Hyades]]
 | bullets = on
 | 1 include [[Unsolved:Dione (mythology)#Nymph or sea-nymph|Dione]] or
 | 2 includes Thyone and Prodice or
 | 3 includes (i) Coronis, Cleeia (or Cleis) and Philia or<br>
(ii) Aesyle (or Phaisyle), [[Unsolved:Eudora (mythology)|Eudora]] and [[Unsolved:Ambrosia (Hyades)|Ambrosia]] or
 | 5 includes (i) Aesyle (or Phaisyle), Coronis, Cleeia (or Cleis), Phaeo and Eudora or<br>(ii) Aesyle (or Phaisyle), Coronis, Eudora, Ambrosia and [[Unsolved:Polyxo|Polyxo]] or<br> (iii) Pytho, Synecho, Baccho, [[Astronomy:Hyades (mythology)#Mythology|Cardie]] and Niseis
}}
(a,b,c) Hyas<br>(a,b) [[Unsolved:Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]]<br> (a) [[Unsolved:Hesperides|Hesperides]] ''(half-sisters)''
| children = 
| mount = 
| deity_of = The Seven Star-[[Unsolved:Nymph|nymph]] Sisters
| member_of = 
| other_names = 
| consort = 
| image = The Pleiades (Elihu Vedder).jpg
| caption = ''The Pleiades'' by Elihu Vedder
}}{{Greek myth (aquatic nymphs)}}

The '''Pleiades''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|l|iː|ə|d|iː|z|,_|ˈ|p|l|eɪ|-|,_|ˈ|p|l|aɪ|-}};<ref>{{MW|Pleiades}}</ref> {{lang-grc-gre|Πλειάδες}}, Ancient Greek pronunciation: {{IPA-el|pleːádes|}}), were the seven sister-[[Unsolved:Nymph|nymph]]s, companions of [[Religion:Artemis|Artemis]], the goddess of the hunt.<ref>Scholiast on [[Biography:Homer|Homer]], ''[[Religion:Iliad|Iliad]]'' [https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg5026.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:2.18.198/ 18.486]. This in turn cites the lost Epic Cycle. The scholiast to Pindar, ''Olympian Ode'' 3.53 also refers to Taygete as a friend of [[Religion:Artemis|Artemis]].</ref> Together with their seven sisters, the [[Astronomy:Hyades (mythology)|Hyades]], they were called the Atlantides, Dodonides, or [[Unsolved:Nysiads|Nysiades]], nursemaids and teachers of the infant [[Religion:Dionysus|Dionysus]]. The Pleiades were thought to have been translated to the night sky as a cluster of stars, the [[Astronomy:Pleiades|Pleiades]], and were associated with rain.

== Etymology ==
The name Pleiades ostensibly derived from the name of their mother, [[Unsolved:Pleione (mythology)|Pleione]], effectively meaning "daughters of Pleione". However, the name of the star-cluster likely came first, and Pleione was invented to explain it.<ref>Hard 2004, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA518 p. 518].</ref> According to another suggestion ''Pleiades'' derived from πλεῖν (''plein'', "to sail") because of the cluster's importance in delimiting the sailing season in the [[Place:Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean Sea]]: "the season of navigation began with their [[Astronomy:Heliacal rising|heliacal rising]]".<ref>"Pleiad, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, December 2014. Web. 20 January 2015.</ref>

== Family ==
The Pleiades' parents were the Titan [[Religion:Atlas (mythology)|Atlas]]<ref>[[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]], ''Astronomy'' fr. 1; [[Biography:Aeschylus|Aeschylus]], fr. 172; Ovid, ''Metamorphoses'' [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ov.+Met.+6.172&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0028:book=:chapter=&highlight=Pleiades 6.172]</ref> and the [[Unsolved:Oceanids|Oceanid]] [[Unsolved:Pleione (mythology)|Pleione]]<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Pleiades 3.10.1], Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' 192; ''De Astronomica'' 2.21; Ovid, ''Fasti'' 4.169 & 5.79</ref> born on Mount Cyllene. In some accounts, their mother was called [[Unsolved:Aethra (mythology)|Aethra]], another Oceanid.<ref>Hyginus, ''De Astronomica'' 2.21 with Musaeus as the authority; Ovid,  ''Fasti'' 5.164</ref> Aside from the above sisters, the Hyades, the Pleiades' other siblings were Hyas and the nymph [[Unsolved:Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]] who was famous in the tale of Odysseus. Sometimes they were related as half-sisters to the [[Unsolved:Hesperides|Hesperides]], nymphs of the morning star.

== Names ==
Several of the most prominent male Olympian gods (including [[Religion:Zeus|Zeus]], [[Religion:Poseidon|Poseidon]], and Ares) engaged in affairs with the seven heavenly sisters. These relationships resulted in the birth of their children.
# [[Unsolved:Maia|Maia]], eldest<ref>Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D3%3Achapter%3D10%3Asection%3D2 3.10.2]</ref> of the seven Pleiades, was mother of [[Religion:Hermes|Hermes]] by Zeus.<ref>[[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]], ''[[Religion:Theogony|Theogony]]'' [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+938&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130:book=:chapter=&highlight=Maia 938]; Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Maia 3.10.2]</ref>
# [[Unsolved:Electra (Pleiad)|Electra]], mother of Dardanus<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#155 155] & [https://topostext.org/work/206#192 192]</ref> and Iasion,<ref>Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#250 250]</ref> by Zeus.<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.12.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Electra 3.12.1]</ref>
# Taygete, mother of Lacedaemon, also by Zeus.<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.3&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Lacedaemon 3.10.3]</ref>
# [[Unsolved:Alcyone (Pleiad)|Alcyone]], mother of Hyrieus,<ref name=":0">Hyginus, ''Fabulae'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#157 157]</ref> Hyperenor and Aethusa;<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Alcyone 3.10.1]</ref> Hyperes and Anthas;<ref>Pausanias, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+2.30.8+&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160:book=:chapter=&highlight=Alcyone 2.30.8]</ref> and Epopeus<ref name=":0" /> by [[Religion:Poseidon|Poseidon]].
# Celaeno, mother of Lycus<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Celaeno 3.10.1]</ref> and Nycteus by [[Religion:Poseidon|Poseidon]]; and of Eurypylus and Euphemus also by Poseidon.
# Sterope, also [[Unsolved:Asterope (Greek myth)|Asterope]], mother of King Oenomaus of Elis by Ares or wife of Oenomaus instead.<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Sterope 3.10.1]</ref>
# [[Unsolved:Merope (Pleiad)|Merope]], youngest of the Pleiades.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Pleiades in Greek Mythology|url=https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/the-pleiades.html|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Greek Legends and Myths|language=en}}</ref> In other mythic contexts, she married Sisyphus<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+3.10.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Merope 3.10.1]</ref> and, becoming mortal, faded away. Merope bore Sisyphus several sons including Glaucus.<ref>Apollodorus, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Apollod.+1.9.3+&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022:book=:chapter=&highlight=Merope 1.9.3]</ref>

== Mythology ==
[[File:William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Lost Pleiad (1884).jpg|thumb|358x358px|''Lost Pleiad'' (1884) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau.|left]]
After Atlas was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders, [[Unsolved:Orion (mythology)|Orion]] began to pursue all of the Pleiades, and Zeus transformed them first into doves, and then into stars to comfort their father. The [[Astronomy:Orion (constellation)|constellation of Orion]] is said to still pursue them across the night sky.

One of the most memorable myths involving the Pleiades is the story of how these sisters literally became stars, their ''[[Astronomy:Catasterismi|catasterism]]''. According to some versions of the tale, all seven sisters died by suicide because they were so saddened by either the fate of their father, Atlas, or the loss of their siblings, the Hyades. In turn, Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods, immortalized the sisters by placing them in the sky. There these seven stars formed the star cluster known thereafter as the Pleiades.

The Greek poet [[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]] mentions the Pleiades several times in his ''Works and Days''. As the Pleiades are primarily winter stars, they feature prominently in the ancient agricultural calendar. Here is a bit of advice from Hesiod:

{{poemquote|And if longing seizes you for sailing the stormy seas,
when the Pleiades flee mighty Orion
and plunge into the misty deep
and all the gusty winds are raging,
then do not keep your ship on the wine-dark sea
but, as I bid you, remember to work the land.|''Works and Days'' 618–623}}

The Pleiades would "flee mighty Orion and plunge into the misty deep" as they set in the West, which they would begin to do just before dawn during October–November, a good time of the year to lay up your ship after the fine summer weather and "remember to work the land"; in Mediterranean agriculture autumn is the time to plough and sow.

The poet [[Biology:Sappho|Sappho]] mentions the Pleiades in one of her poems:<blockquote>The moon has gone<br>The Pleiades gone<br>In dead of night<br>Time passes on<br>I lie alone</blockquote>The poet Lord Tennyson mentions the Pleiades in his poem "Locksley Hall":<blockquote>Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising through the mellow shade,<br>Glitter like a swarm of [[Biology:Firefly|fire-flies]] tangled in a silver braid.</blockquote>The loss of one of the sisters, Merope, in some myths may reflect an astronomical event wherein one of the stars in the [[Astronomy:Pleiades|Pleiades star cluster]] disappeared from view by the naked eye.<ref>[http://www.pleiade.org/pleiades_02.html ''The Pleiades in mythology''], Pleiade Associates, Bristol, United Kingdom, accessed 7 June 2012</ref><ref>Marusek, James A., [http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/IndiaCataclysm.pdf ''Did a Supernova cause the Collapse of Civilization in India?''], 28 October 2005</ref>

Pleiades and Orion are mentioned in the Book of Job:

“Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades?
Can you loose the cords of Orion?
Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?” (Job 38:31-32, NIV)

== Alternative version ==
Although most accounts are uniform as to the number, names, and main myths concerning the Pleiades, the mythological information recorded by a scholiast on Theocritus' Idylls with reference to Callimachus<ref>Scholia on Theocritus, ''Idyll'' 13, 25</ref> has nothing in common with the traditional version. According to it, the Pleiades were daughters of an [[Social:Amazons|Amazonian]] queen; their names were Maia, Coccymo, Glaucia, Protis, Parthenia, Stonychia, and Lampado. They were credited with inventing ritual dances and nighttime festivals.

==See also==
* Alexandrian Pleiad
* [[Astronomy:Kṛttikā|Kṛttikā]]
* Peleiades
* Seven-dots glyph

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Apollodorus, ''Apollodorus, The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes.'' Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. {{ISBN|0-674-99135-4}}. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* Apollonius Rhodius, ''Argonautica'', edited and translated by William H. Race, Loeb Classical Library No. 1, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99630-4}}. [https://www-loebclassics-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/LCL001/2009/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
* Campbell, David A., ''Greek Lyric, Volume III: Stesichorus, Ibycus, Simonides, and Others'',  Loeb Classical Library No. 476, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 1991. {{ISBN|978-0674995253}}. [https://www-loebclassics-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/LCL476/1991/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
* Fowler, R. L. (2013), ''Early Greek Mythography: Volume 2: Commentary'', Oxford University Press, 2013. {{ISBN|978-0198147411}}.
* Gantz, Timothy, ''Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5360-9}} (Vol. 1), {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5362-3}} (Vol. 2).
* Grimal, Pierre, ''The Dictionary of Classical Mythology'', Wiley-Blackwell, 1996. {{ISBN|978-0-631-20102-1}}.
* Hard, Robin (2004), ''The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology"'', Psychology Press, 2004, {{ISBN|9780415186360}}. [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC Google Books].
* Hard, Robin (2015), (trans.) ''Eratosthenes and Hyginus: Constellation Myths, With Aratus's Phaenomena'', [[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]], 2015. {{ISBN|978-0-19-871698-3}}.
* [[Biography:Hesiod|Hesiod]], ''Works and Days'', in ''Hesiod, Theogony, Works and Days, Testimonia,'' Edited and translated by Glenn W. Most. Loeb Classical Library No. 57. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2018. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99720-2}}. [https://www-loebclassics-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/LCL057/2018/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
* [[Biography:Homer|Homer]], ''The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes''. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:1.1-1.32 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Biography:Homer|Homer]], ''The Odyssey with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes''. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0136%3Abook%3D1%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Biography:Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus, Gaius Julius]], ''Fabulae'' in ''Apollodorus' ''Library'' and Hyginus' ''Fabulae'': Two Handbooks of Greek Mythology, Translated, with Introductions by R. Scott Smith and Stephen M. Trzaskoma'', Hackett Publishing Company,  2007. {{ISBN|978-0-87220-821-6}}.
* Ovid, ''Ovid's Fasti'', Translated by James G. Frazer. Revised by G. P. Goold, Loeb Classical Library No. 253, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 1931 (first published), 1996 (reprinted with corrections). {{ISBN|978-0-674-99279-5}}. [https://www-loebclassics-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/LCL253/1931/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
* Quintus Smyrnaeus, ''[[Religion:Posthomerica|Posthomerica]]'', edited and translated by Neil Hopkinson, Loeb Classical Library No. 19, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2018. {{ISBN|978-0-674-99716-5}}. [https://www-loebclassics-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/LCL019/2018/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
* Tripp, Edward, ''Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology'', Thomas Y. Crowell Co; First edition (June 1970). {{ISBN|069022608X}}.
* West, M. L. (1978), ''Hesiod: Works and Days'', Clarendon Press Oxford, 1978. {{ISBN|0-19-814005-3}}.
* West, M. L. (2003), ''Greek Epic Fragments: From the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC'', edited and translated by Martin L. West, Loeb Classical Library No. 497, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2003.  {{ISBN|978-0-674-99605-2}}. [https://www-loebclassics-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/LCL497/2003/volume.xml Online version at Harvard University Press].
* {{cite web |last=Kohn |first=Rachael |title=The Seven Stars of the Pleiades |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=October 10, 2004 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/spirit/stories/s1213298.htm |access-date =2007-05-01}}
* {{cite journal |last=Lorgeoux-Bouayad |first=Laetitia |title=Le mystère des étoiles aux sept voies |journal=Bulletin de l'Association Guillaume Budé |number=2 |year=2012 |volume=1 |pages=75–99 |doi=10.3406/bude.2012.6949 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/bude_0004-5527_2012_num_1_2_6949 |language=fr}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pleiades (Greek Mythology)}}
[[Category:Nymphs]]
[[Category:Pleiades Open Cluster]]

{{Sourceattribution|Pleiades (Greek mythology)|1}}