Nereids

The Nereïds (Nereids), or Νηρεΐδες, were sea nymphs, and were named after their father, Nereus. Their mother was the sea goddess Doris, who was an Oceanid. Below is the list of Nereids found in Hesiod's Theogony:

Ploto, Eucrante, Sao, Amphitrite, Eudora, Thetis, Galene, Glauce, Cymothoë, Speo, Thoë, Halie, Pasithea, Erato, Eunice, Melite, Eulimene, Agaue, Doto, Proto, Pherusa, Dynamene, Nisaea, Actaea, Protomedes, Doris (not to be confused with her mother), Panopea, Galatea, Hippothoë, Hipponoë, Cymodoce, Cymatolege, Cymo, Eïone Alimede, Glauconome, Pontoporea, Leagore, Euagore, Laomedea, Polynoë, Autonoë, Lysianassa, Euarne, Psamathe, Menippe, Neso, Eupompe, Themisto, Pronoë, Nemertes.

(Hmmm... There are fifty-one names here!)

The Roman mythographer Hyginus gave us some different names.

Only three of the Nereïds became goddesses of the sea: Thetis, Psamathe and Galatea. Some said that Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon, may have been a Nereïd instead of an Oceanid.

The Nereids were not necessarily peaceful and passive beings. Like the Olympian goddesses, they could be vengeful when angered - as it can be seen, when Cassiopeia boasted that the beauty of her daughter Andromeda surpassed the Nereids. The Nereids demanded retribution: the sacrifice of her daughter Andromeda to the sea monster.

Thetis herself showed what her support and action could do, to determine the victory and defeat of the gods.

For Thetis, see Minor Greek Deities, Thetis. For Dione, see Titans, Dione.