Nereid

Nereid, in astronomy, one of the eight known moons, or natural satellites, of Neptune.

In Greek mythology, any of the daughters of the sea god Nereus and of Doris, daughter of Oceanus. The Nereids, who numbered 50 or 100, were depicted as young girls who inhabited any water, salt or fresh, and were benign toward humanity. They were popular figures in Greek literature. The best known were Amphitrite, consort of Poseidon; Thetis, wife of Peleus (king of the Myrmidons) and mother of Achilles; and Galatea, a Sicilian loved by the Cyclops Polyphemus.

Learn more about Nereid with a free trial on Britannica.com.

In Greek mythology, the Nereids (neer'-ee-eds) (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 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)

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. In modern Greek folklore, the term "nereid" (νεράϊδα, neráïda) has come to be used of all nymphs, or fairies, not merely nymphs of the sea.

References

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