Galaxy/The codex of Pleione

In Greek mythology, Pleione (Ancient Greek: Πληιόνη or Πλειόνη) was an Oceanid nymph, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, consort of Atlas, and mother of the seven Pleiades. She was associated with the increase of flocks — her name related to Greek pleiōn, "more" — and sometimes also with sailing. She lived on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Distinct from the star and orchid genus that later took her name.

Adapted from Wikipedia, "Pleione (mythology)" · CC BY-SA 4.0

I.Family

As an Oceanid, Pleione is daughter of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. By Atlas she bore the Pleiades — Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope (Asterope), and Merope — and in many accounts also the Hyades and their brother Hyas. Some sources add Calypso among her children with Atlas. Through Maia she is grandmother of Hermes; through Electra, of Iasion.

II.Myth and namesake

She dwelt on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. One tale has Orion pursue her and her daughters through Boeotia for seven years until Zeus, pitying the girls, set them among the stars — the Pleiades still fleeing Orion in the sky.

The Be star Pleione in the Pleiades cluster and the orchid genus Pleione are named after her.

AT A GLANCE

Greek namePleionē (Πλειόνη)
Roman namePleione
Typenymph
Domainsdaughter of Ocean · mother of the Pleiads · consort of Atlas
ParentageOceanus · Tethys
EtymologyTraditionally linked to Greek pleiōn (πλεῖων), "more," fitting her role over the multiplication of flocks.
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