Nereids

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Greek deities series
Primordial deities
Titans and Olympians
Chthonic deities
Personified concepts
Other deities
Aquatic deities
Poseidon Oceanus Ceto Nereus Glaucus Thetis Amphitrite Tethys	Triton Proteus Phorcys Pontus Oceanids Nereids Naiads
Nymphs
Dryads Naiads Meliae Oreads Napaeae Nereids	Hamadryads Oceanids Limnades Crinaeae Hesperides Pegaeae

In Greek mythology, the Nereids (neer'-ee-eds) 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 particularly associated with the Aegean Sea, where they dwelt with their father in the depths within a silvery cave. The most notable of them are Thetis, wife of Peleus and mother of Achilles; Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon; and Galatea, love of the Cyclops Polyphemus.

In Iliad XVIII, when Thetis cries out in sympathy for the grief of Achilles for the slain Patroclus,

“

There gathered round her every goddess, every Nereid that was in the deep salt sea. Glauce was there and Thaleia and Cymodoce; Nesaea, Speio, Thoe and ox-eyed Halie; Cymothoe, Actaee and Limnoreia; Melite, Iaera, Amphithoe and Agaue; Doto, Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene; Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira; Doris, Panope and far-sung Galatea; Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa. Clymene came too, with Ianeira, Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia, Amatheia of the lovely locks, and other Nereids of the salt sea depths. The silvery cave was full of nymphs.

”

(E.V. Rieu, translator)

In classical art they are frequently depicted riding an assortment of sea creatures — dolphins, sea monsters, and hippocampi.

Contents 1 Names of the Nereids 2 In popular culture 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Names of the Nereids

This list is correlated from four sources. Apollodorus, Hesiod, Homer, and Hyginus. Because of this the total number of names goes beyond fifty. ^[1]

In modern Greek folklore, the term "nereid" has come to be used of all nymphs, not merely nymphs of the sea.

[edit] In popular culture

• "Nereid" is featured in the Game Boy Advance game Golden Sun: The Lost Age.

• "Nereid" is the name given to the god of destruction in the PlayStation and PSP game Tales of Eternia

• "All Nereids Beware" is the first song on the album All's Well That Ends Well by the band Chiodos.

• "Nereids" are one of the playable humanoid races in the Playstation 2 game Soul Nomad & the World Eaters.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Nereids in classical literature and art

• Nereid and Triton Mosaic from Ephesus Terrace Home -2
• 3D stereoview of Nereid and Triton relief from Apollon Temple in Didim