Arethusa (mythology)

Arethusa (mythology)

Arethusa (Ἀρέθουσα) means "the waterer". She was a nymph and daughter of Nereus (making her a Nereid), [Virgil, Georgics 4.344] and later became a fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily.

The myth of her transformation begins when she came across a clear stream and began bathing, not knowing it was the river god Alpheus. He fell in love during their encounter, but she fled after discovering his presence and intentions, as she wished to remain a chaste attendant of Artemis. After a long chase, she prayed to her goddess to ask for protection. Artemis hid her in a cloud, but Alpheus was persistent. She began to perspire profusely from fear, and soon transformed into a stream. Artemis then broke the ground allowing Arethusa another attempt to flee. [Ovid, "Metamorphoses" 5.710] Her stream traveled under the earth to the island of Ortygia, but Alpheus flowed through the sea to reach her and mingle with her waters. [Pausanias, "Description of Greece" 5.7.3]

During Demeter's search for her daughter Persephone, Arethusa entreated Demeter to discontinue her punishment of Sicily over her daughter's disappearance. She told the goddess that while traveling in her stream below the earth, she saw her daughter looking sad as the queen of Hades. [Ovid, "Metamorphoses" 5.407]

Arethusa occasionally appeared on coins as a young girl with a net in her hair and dolphins around her head. These coins were common around Ortygia, the location in which she ends up after fleeing from Alpheus.

References

External links

* [http://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/Coins/Arethusa.html Coins of Arethusa] (contains verse from Ovid and Shelley)


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arethusa (Mythologie) — Arethusa, von Delphinen umgeben (Dekadrachme aus Syrakus, ca. 400 v. Chr.) Arethusa (griechisch Ἀρέθουσα) ist der Name eine der Najaden. Sie ist die Nymphe der Arethusaquelle auf der Insel Ortygia bei Syrakus in Sizilien …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Arethusa — In classical mythology, Arethusa may refer to:People* Arethusa (mythology), a nereid nymph who became a fountain. * Arethusa, a hesperid nymph.Places* Arethusa, a titular see of Syria near Apameia. * Arethuse, a fountain in Ortygia, Sicily, named …   Wikipedia

  • arethusa — /ar euh thooh zeuh/, n. 1. Also called dragon s mouth, swamp pink. an orchid, Arethusa bulbosa, of eastern North America, having a solitary pink flower with a blotched, fringed lip: now rare. 2. (cap.) Class. Myth. a nymph who was changed into a… …   Universalium

  • arethusa — ar•e•thu•sa [[t]ˌær əˈθu zə[/t]] n. pl. sas 1) pln Also called dragon s mouth swamp pink an orchid, Arethusa bulbosa of E North America. 2) myt (cap.) a nymph in Greek mythology changed into a spring to save her from pursuit by the river god… …   From formal English to slang

  • HMS Arethusa (F38) — was a Leander class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). She was, like the rest of the Leanders, named after a figure of mythology. Arethusa was built by J.S. White Company Shipbuilders of Cowes. Arethusa was launched on the 5th November 1963 and… …   Wikipedia

  • The Saucy Arethusa — is a sea shanty (Roud # 12675) which, although usually considered traditional , was possibly written by Prince Hoare [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi bin/query/r?ammem/ncps:@field(DOCID+@lit(ABK2934 0069 88))::] , a comic opera librettist, in around… …   Wikipedia

  • 95 Arethusa — Infobox Planet | discovery=yes | physical characteristics = yes | bgcolour=#FFFFC0 name=95 Arethusa discoverer=Karl Theodor Robert Luther discovered=November 23, 1867 alt names= mp category=Main belt epoch=December 31, 2006 (JD 2454100.5)… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Arethusa — may refer to:*, a collier for the Union Navy in the American Civil War. *, a fleet oiler for the Navy in World War I.*, a mobile floating tanker for the Navy in World War II.OriginArethusa was a nymph in Greek mythology.ee also* HMS… …   Wikipedia

  • Alpheus (mythology) — In Greek mythology Alpheus, or (Greek: Αλφειός, meaning whitish , also romanized as Alfeiós, Alpheios or Alfiós) is a river (present Alfeios River) and river god. Like most river gods, he is a son of Oceanus and Tethys. [Hesiod, Theogony 338]… …   Wikipedia

  • Abas (mythology) — In Greek mythology, the name Abas (Greek: Ἄβας) is attributed to several individuals:*Abas, son of Poseidon and Arethusa. A Thracian by birth, Abas founded a tribe known as the Abantians or Abantes. Abas and his Abantian followers migrated to the …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”