Phaeacian Naiad Nymph of Greek Mythology (original) (raw)

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MELITE

Translation

Honey-Sweet (melitê)

MELITE was a Naiad-nymph of Mount Melite on the mythical island of the Phaiakes (Phaeacians)--later identified with Greek island of Korkyra (Corcyra). According to some she was the mother of Hyllos by Herakles (Deianeira, however, was usually named as the boy's mother).

Melite was probably identified with the honey-nymph Makris. Their fathers also appear to be connected--Aigaios (Of the Goats) and Aristaios Nomios (Of the Pastures).

PARENTS

AIGAIOS (Apollonius Rhodius 4.538)

OFFSPRING

HYLLOS (by Herakles) (Apollonius Rhodius 4.538)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

MELITE (Melitê).A Naias, a daughter of the river-god Aegaeus, who became, by Heracles, the mother of Hyllus, in the country of the Phaeacians. (Apollon. Rhod. iv. 538.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 538 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"He [Hyllos (Hyllus)] was the son of the beautiful Melite by Herakles and was born in the Phaiakian (Phaeacian) land, for his father had come to King Nausithous and the island of Makris (Macris), nurse of Dionysos, to obtain absolution for the murder of his children. There Herakles fell in love with the Naias Melite, a daughter of the River Aigaios (Aegaeus), and she bore him the mighty Hyllos."