Merope
Domains:
Pleiades
Category:
5E Alignment:
5E Domains:
5E Symbol:
Greek Name | Transliteration | Latin Spelling | Translation |
Μεροπη | Meropê | Merope | Face-Turned, Bee-Eater |
Πλειας Πλειαδες | Pleias, Pleiades | Vergilia, Vergiliae | Daughters of Pleione |
MEROPE was one of the Pleiades--seven star-nymph daughters of the Titan Atlas. She was the wife the impious king Sisyphos (Sisyphus) and ancestress of the Korinthian (Corinthian) and Lykian (Lycian) royal houses. Merope was so ashamed of her husband's crimes that she hid her face in heaven, causing the seventh star of the Pleiades to gradually fade from sight.
Merope's name was variously interpreted to mean "Face-Turned" from the Greek words meros "to turn away" and ops "face", "Sparkling-Face" from (mar)mairô and ops, and "Bee-Eater" from merops. The first etymology was derived from the fading light of her star, the second from its sparkle, and the third from avian nature of the Pleiades--"the Doves."
THE PLEIADES were seven mountain-nymph daughters of the Titan Atlas. Their leader was Maia the mother of Hermes by Zeus. Five of the other Pleiades were also loved by gods becoming ancestresses of various royal families including those of Sparta and Troy. When they were pursued by the lustful giant Orion, Zeus placed them amongst the stars as the constellation Pleiades.
Their name means "Daughters of Pleione" and also "Ladies of Plenty" from the Greek word pleiôn "plenty."