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Greek Mythology

Xanthus Nereids Monument, http://www.cepolina.com/ (A sculptured temple at Xanthus in Lycia, discovered in 1838 by Sir Charles Fellows. The sculptures with which it was adorned are now in the British Museum. The name was given from ten draped female figures, whose moist, clinging garments and the accompanying sea-weed and shells led many archæologists to regard them as Nereïds. Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities )

In Greek mythology, the Nereids (NEER-ee-eds) ((Νηρηίδες , Νηρεΐδες , Νηρηΐδες) are 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.

Greek Mythology

Nereids, Thetis on a Hippokampos (sea horse) with the armor for Achilles

Greek Mythology

Nereids riding dolphins and Nereid with a Ketos, Thetis on a Hippokampos Apulian Red Figured ceramic, c 425/401 BC
(with the armour for Achilles)

Nereid names according to different authors:

Apollodorus 1.2.7:

Cymothoe, Spio, Glauconome, Nausithoe, Halie, Erato, Sao, Amphitrite, Eunice, Thetis, Eulimene, Agave, Eudore, Doto, Pherusa, Galatea, Actaea, Pontomedusa, Hippothoe, Lysianassa, Cymo, Eione, Halimede, Plexaure, Eucrante, Proto, Calypso, Panope, Cranto, Neomeris, Hipponoe, Ianira, Polynome, Autonoe, Melite, Dione, Nesaea, Dero, Evagore, Psamnthe, Eumolpe, Ione, Dynamene, Ceto, and Limnoria.

Homer, Iliad Book 18

His noble mother (Thetis) heard it from the ocean depths
where she was sitting by her ancient father.
She began to wail. Then around her gathered
all the divine daughters of Nereus deep in the sea—
Glauce, Thaleia, Cymodoce, Nesaea,
Speio, Thoe, ox-eyed Halië, Cymothoë,
Actaia, Limnoreia, Melite, Iaera,
Amphithoe, Agave, Doto, Proto,
Pherousa, Dynamene, Dexamene,
Amphinome, Callianeira, Doris, Panope,
lovely Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes,
Callianassa. Also there were Clymene,
Ianeira, Ianassa, Maera, Orithyia,
Amatheia with her lovely hair, and others,
Nereus' daughters living in the ocean depths.
They filled the glistening cave, beating their breasts.
Thetis led them all in their laments:

"Sister Nereids, listen,
so all of you, hearing what I say,
will understand my heart's enormous sorrow.

Hesiod (Theogony)

Greek Mythology

The Font of the Nereids, Lola Mora, Costanera Sur / Buenos Aires (Source). In 1903 her Font of the Nereids, created for the city of Buenos Aires, met bureaucratic problems at the city's Deliberative Council, which had the sculpture moved from place to place.

And of Nereus and rich-haired Doris, daughter of Ocean the perfect river, were born children (1), passing lovely amongst goddesses:

Ploto, Eucrante, Sao, and Amphitrite, and Eudora, and Thetis, Galene and Glauce, Cymothoe, Speo, Thoe and lovely Halie, and Pasithea, and Erato, and rosy-armed Eunice, and gracious Melite, and Eulimene, and Agaue, Doto, Proto, Pherusa, and Dynamene, and Nisaea, and Actaea, and Protomedea, Doris, Panopea, and comely Galatea, and lovely Hippothoe, and rosy-armed Hipponoe, and Cymodoce who with Cymatolege (2) and Amphitrite easily calms the waves upon the misty sea and the blasts of raging winds, and Cymo, and Eione, and rich-crowned Alimede, and Glauconome, fond of laughter, and Pontoporea, Leagore, Euagore, and Laomedea, and Polynoe, and Autonoe, and Lysianassa, and Euarne, lovely of shape and without blemish of form, and Psamathe of charming figure and divine Menippe, Neso, Eupompe, Themisto, Pronoe, and Nemertes (3) who has the nature of her deathless father. These fifty daughters sprang from blameless Nereus, skilled in excellent crafts.

(1) Many of the names which follow express various qualities or aspects of the sea: thus Galene is `Calm', Cymothoe is the `Wave-swift', Pherusa and Dynamene are `She who speeds (ships)' and `She who has power'.

(2) The `Wave-receiver' and the `Wave-stiller'.

(3) `The Unerring' or `Truthful'; cp. l. 235.

Greek Mythology