Greek nymph, lover of Apollo
In Greek mythology , Melaena or Melena (Ancient Greek : Μέλαινα , romanized : Mélaina , feminine Ancient Greek : μέλᾱς , romanized : mélās "black, dark"),[ 1] Melane (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
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.[citation needed ]
Mythology
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
References
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 .