Nereids Sea Nymphs

Definition of the Nereids Sea Nymphs
Who were the Nereids of Ancient Greek mythology? The meaning and definition of Nereids are as follows: Definition of Nereids: The Nereids were 50 minor goddesses and sea nymphs, the daughters of the sea god Nereus and of Doris, the daughter of Oceanus. The Nereids were attendants of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. They were often represented in art as riding on riding on the back of dolphins or the Hippocamps (the horses of the sea), sometimes in a human form and occasionally depicted with the tail of a fish. These mythical aquatic sisters were the patrons of sailors and fishermen, who came to the aid of men in distress. Like all nymphs the Nereids sea nymphs had the gift of prophecy and divination.

The Family of the Nereids Sea Nymphs
The Nereids were the nymphs of the sea who had in their care the rich bounty of the sea. The Nereids were the  daughters of Nereus, the god of the Mediterranean Sea aka 'the old man of the sea' and his wife Doris. Doris was an Oceanide, a sea nymph and the daughter of the Titan gods Oceanus and Tethys. A sea nymph called Thetis was the unofficial leader of the Nereids and the mother of Achilles, a hero of the Trojan War. Another Nereid called Amphitrite became the the  wife of Poseidon.

The Story of Andromeda and the Nereids
The Nereids were reputed to be the most beautiful and beguiling of the sea nymphs. However they were vain and could be highly dangerous when annoyed. According to ancient Greek mythology Queen Cassiopeia, proud of her beauty, dared to compare herself to the Nereids which roused their indignation to such a degree that they sent a terrible sea-monster to ravage the coast. To appease the deities, King Cepheus was ordered to chain his daughter to a rock and expose his daughter Andromeda to be devoured by the monster in compensatory sacrifice. Refer to the Legend of Perseus & Medusa.

Names of Famous Nereids in Greek Mythology
The names of the most famous Nereids mentioned in Greek Mythology are detailed in the following list:

• Actaea: The myth of Actaea: She was the Nereid of the sea shore

• Amathia: The myth of the Nereid Amathia: She was renown for being helpful towards sailors fighting perilous storms

• Amphitrite: The myth of the Nereid Amphitrite: She was the wife of Poseidon god of the sea.

• Amphithoe: The myth of the Nereid Amphithoe: She was the nymph who was addressed as “she who moves swiftly around”

• Cydippe: The myth of the Nereid Cydippe: She had a failed love affair with Aristaeus.

• Creneis: The myth of the Nereid Creneis: She was a beautiful nymph who played with dolphins

• Cymo: The myth of the Nereid Cymo: She was associated with the crabs of the sea

• Doris: The myth of the Nereid Doris – a nymph and wife of the sea god Nereus and the mother of the Nereides

• Doto: The myth of the Nereid Doto: She was associated with granting safe voyage or generous catch.

• Dynamene: The myth of the Nereid Dynamene: With her sister Pherusa, she controlled the great ocean swells

• Eione: The myth of the Nereids Eione: She was a nymph of the beach and said to have helped castaways

• Eucrante: The myth of the Nereids Eucrante: She was responsible for successful voyages or fishing

• Eumolpe: The myth of the Nereids Eumolpe: She was a fine singer and a chief attendant of Neptune

• Evagore: The myth of the Nereids Evagore: She was assigned with the duty of assembling other sea nymphs

• Galatea: The myth of the Nereids Galatea: She was constantly wooed by the Cyclops Polyphemus but loved Acis - refer to the Myth of Acis and Galatea

• Galene: The myth of the Nereids Galene: She was the personification of the calm sea

• Glauce: The myth of the Nereids Glauce: She was the sea nymph of the ‘blue-grey’ waters who nursed the infant Zeus

• Ianassa: The myth of the Nereids Ianassa: She was a powerful protector of sailors

• Iphianassa: The myth of the Nereids Iphianassa: She gave birth to a son Aetolus, who slew Apis

• Laomedeia: The myth of the Nereid Laomedeia: She was the sea nymph after whom one of the moons of Jupiter was named

• Leiagore: The myth of the Nereid Leiagore: She was famous as the nymph who spoke to mortals

• Maera: The myth of the Nereids Maera: She was associated with the dog-star Seirios to bring midsummer heat

• Nausithoe: The myth of the Nereids Nesaea: She caused ships to sail swiftly

• Panopaea: The myth of the Nereid Panopaea: She was the nymph of the sea’s broad panorama, linked to the sighting of land

• Panopaea: The myth of the Nereid Panopaea: She was the nymph of the sea’s broad panorama, linked to the sighting of land

• Pasithea: The myth of the Nereid Pasithea: She was the nymph of good cheer

• Pontomedusa: The myth of the Nereid Pontomedusa: She was also known as the sea queen

• Psamathe: The myth of the Nereid Psamathe: She was a nymph and goddess of sand beaches and the wife of Proteus

• Sao: The myth of the Nereid Sao: She was the sea nymph of safe passage of sailors

• Thaleia: The myth of the Nereid Thaleia: She was a sand nymph who gave birth to the twin gods of Sicilian geysers

• Themisto: The myth of the Nereid Themisto: She died when she killed her twin sons by accident

• Thetis: The myth of the Nereid Thetis: She was given in marriage to a mortal called Peleus. Eris, the goddess of Discord attended the wedding and sparked the Myth of the Apple of Discord

• Thoosa: The myth of the Nereid Thoosa: She was the lover of Poseidon and became mother of the Cyclops Polyphemus