Alcyone
Pleiad-nymph of Mount Kithairon (Cithaeron) in Boiotia (central Greece)
Domains:
Pleiades
Category:
5E Alignment:
5E Domains:
5E Symbol:
Greek Name | Transliteration | Latin Spelling | Translation |
Αλκυονη | Alkyonê | Alcyone | Strong Helper, Kingfisher |
Πλειας Πλειαδες | Pleias, Pleiades | Vergilia, Vergiliae | Daughters of Pleione |
ALKYONE (Alcyone) was a Pleiad-nymph of Mount Kithairon (Cithaeron) in Boiotia (central Greece) loved by the god Poseidon.
Alkyone's name means either "strong-helper" from the Greek words alkê and oneô (oninêmi) or "kingfisher" from alkyôn. References to birds are also found in the name Peleiades "doves" and Merope the "bee-eater" (Greek merops).
THE PLEIADES were seven mountain-nymph daughters of the Titan Atlas. Their leader was Maia the mother of Hermes by Zeus. Five of the other Pleiades were also loved by gods becoming ancestresses of various royal families including those of Sparta and Troy. When they were pursued by the lustful giant Orion, Zeus placed them amongst the stars as the constellation Pleiades.
Their name means "Daughters of Pleione" and also "Ladies of Plenty" from the Greek word pleiôn "plenty."