Nereid
Fifty Sea Nymph Sisters of Greek Mythology
The Nereids are the fifty sea nymph sisters of Greek mythology, daughters of the sea-elder Nereus and Doris. All their names are recorded in Hesiod's Theogony, each presiding over different aspects of the sea. The most famous are Thetis, mother of Achilles, and Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon. The scene in Homer's Iliad where her sisters comfort the grieving Thetis is a classical literary masterpiece. Gentle and merciful by nature, they can be merciless to those who show hubris.
Origin
The Nereids are the fifty sister sea-nymphs of Greek mythology, daughters of the old sea-god Nereus and Doris. Hesiod's Theogony names all fifty. Among the most famous are Thetis, mother of Achilles; Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon; and Galatea, beloved of the Cyclops.
Features
- Fifty sisters governing different aspects of the sea
- Beautiful feminine form
- Companions of dolphins and sea creatures
- Skilled in music and dance
- Friendly to sailors and heroes
Stories
Personify the manifold divinity of the sea in Greek myth — guardians of sailors, helpers of heroes such as Achilles and Odysseus, and a beloved subject of Renaissance painting.
Weakness
Weaken when far from the sea. Legend holds that they lose strength when separated from their sisters.
