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In Greek mythology, Melaena or Melena /mɪˈliːnə/ (Ancient Greek: Μέλαινα, romanized: Mélaina, feminine Ancient Greek: μέλᾱς, romanized: mélās "black, dark"),[1] Melane /ˈmɛləniː/ (Koinē Greek: Μελανή, romanized: Melanḗ) or Melanis[2] was a Corycian nymph, or member of the prophetic Thriae, of the springs of Delphi in Phocis.
Family[edit]
Melaena's father was one of the local river gods, either Kephisos or Pleistos of northern Boeotia.[3][4] In another account, she was called the daughter of King Hyamus of Hyampolis and Melanthea (Melantho), daughter of Deucalion. Her sister was called Celaeno.[2]
Melanis was loved by Apollo and bore him Delphos, eponym of Delphi.
Mythology[edit]
Melaina was often identified with Thyia who was also named as the mother of Delphos in other traditions.[5] She was usually confused with the chthonic nymph Melinoë, daughter of Persephone by Hades.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Mike Campbell, Behind the Name
- ^ a b Scholia on Euripides, Orestes 1094
- ^ Pausanias, 10.6.1
- ^ Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.710
- ^ Pausanias, 10.6.4
References[edit]
- Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica translated by Robert Cooper Seaton (1853-1915), R. C. Loeb Classical Library Volume 001. London, William Heinemann Ltd, 1912. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica. George W. Mooney. London. Longmans, Green. 1912. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.