Aglaea (Ancient Greek: Ἀγλαΐα), also spelled Aglaïa, is a goddess of Greek mythology, one of the three Charites (known in Roman mythology as the Graces). She personifies splendour, brilliance and brightness, and in the standard genealogy is a daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome, alongside her sisters Euphrosyne and Thalia. Hesiod names her the youngest of the Charites and the wife of the smith-god Hephaestus.
Adapted from Wikipedia, "Aglaia (Grace)" · CC BY-SA 4.0
I.Overview
In Greek mythology, Aglaea is one of the Charites, the goddesses of grace and beauty who are called the Graces in Roman mythology. She is regarded as the goddess of splendour, brilliance and brightness.
Her name, from the Ancient Greek Ἀγλαΐα, may be translated as "festive radiance," fitting her role among the divine personifications of charm and adornment.
II.Family
According to Hesiod and Apollodorus, Aglaea is a daughter of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome, and one of three Charites together with her sisters Euphrosyne and Thalia. Some sources instead make the Charites daughters of Zeus and Eunomia. Hesiod also names Aglaea the youngest of the three.
Hesiod records that Aglaea was married to the smith-god Hephaestus. According to Proclus, by Hephaestus she became the mother of Eucleia, Euthenia, Eupheme and Philophrosyne.
III.Mythology
In Nonnus's Dionysiaca, Aglaea attends the goddess Aphrodite and assists her in weaving. In the same work she serves as Aphrodite's messenger, sent to find Eros and deliver a message to him.