The seven Pleiades sisters are Alcyone, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope, Sterope (also called Asterope), and Taygete. In Greek mythology they were the daughters of the Titan Atlas and the Oceanid Pleione, and they appear as a star cluster in the constellation Taurus.
Who Were the Pleiades?
The Pleiades were a group of seven nymph sisters in ancient Greek mythology. Their father was Atlas, the Titan condemned to hold up the sky, and their mother was Pleione, an Oceanid (a sea nymph). The name “Pleiades” is usually said to derive from their mother’s name, though some ancient writers linked it to the Greek word plein, “to sail,” because the star cluster was used for navigation.
The sisters were part of a larger family of star nymphs. Their half-sisters were the Hyades, who were also daughters of Atlas (by a different mother, Aethra) and who were associated with rain. The Pleiades themselves were often called the “seven sisters,” and in Greek art and poetry they were depicted as a group of young women, usually in the company of the goddess Artemis.
The Seven Sisters and Their Names
Each sister had her own mythology, though most are known only from brief mentions in ancient sources. Their names and the standard details are:
- Maia – The eldest and most famous. She was the mother of Hermes by Zeus, as told in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. Her name means “nurse” or “midwife.”
- Electra – Mother of Dardanus and Iasion by Zeus. Dardanus was an ancestor of the Trojans, making Electra a founding figure in Trojan mythology.
- Taygete – A huntress companion of Artemis. She was pursued by Zeus and, according to some versions, was turned into a doe by Artemis to escape him.
- Alcyone – Mother of Hyrieus by Poseidon. Her name is related to the halcyon (kingfisher) bird.
- Celaeno – Mother of Lycus or Eurypylus by Poseidon. Her name means “dark” or “black.”
- Sterope (Asterope) – Mother of Oenomaus by Ares. Her name means “lightning” or “flash.” Some sources call her Asterope.
- Merope – The youngest. She married the mortal Sisyphus, king of Corinth, and is often said to be the “lost” Pleiad because she married a mortal and her star is dimmer than the others.
Why Are There Only Six Visible Stars?
A common question about the Pleiades is why the cluster appears to have only six stars to the naked eye, even though there are seven sisters. Ancient Greek explanations varied. The most popular story is that Merope married a mortal (Sisyphus) and therefore her star shines less brightly, or she hides in shame. Another version says Electra hides her face because she cannot bear to watch the destruction of Troy, since her son Dardanus founded the royal line. The dimming of one star is a real astronomical phenomenon—some stars in the cluster vary in brightness—but the Greeks explained it with these myths.
The Pleiades in Different Cultures
The Pleiades star cluster is one of the most recognized in the night sky, and many cultures have their own names and stories for it. In Japanese, it is Subaru, which is why the car company uses a logo of six stars. In Australian Aboriginal traditions, the Pleiades are often a group of women, and in some stories they are pursued by Orion (the hunter). In Hindu astronomy, the cluster is called Krittika and is associated with the six mothers of the war god Kartikeya. In the Bible, the Book of Job mentions “the sweet influences of Pleiades” (Job 38:31). The Greek myth is just one of many, but it is the source of the names most commonly used in Western astronomy.
The Pleiades in Astronomy
In modern astronomy, the Pleiades (Messier 45) is an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus, about 444 light-years from Earth. It contains hundreds of stars, but the seven brightest are named after the sisters. The cluster is relatively young, about 100 million years old, and is dominated by hot, blue stars. The “seven sisters” are actually a group of stars that formed together from a cloud of gas and dust. The cluster is visible to the naked eye from most of the world, and it has been used for timekeeping and navigation for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks marked the heliacal rising of the Pleiades (when they first appear before sunrise) as the start of the sailing season, and their setting in autumn signaled the winter storms.
Common Misconceptions
One misconception is that the Pleiades are the same as the Hyades. They are different star clusters, though both are in Taurus and both are associated with Atlas’s daughters. The Hyades are a V-shaped cluster that forms the face of the bull, while the Pleiades are a smaller, tighter cluster on the shoulder. Another misconception is that all seven sisters were lovers of Zeus. In fact, only Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, and Sterope had affairs with gods (mostly Zeus and Poseidon). Merope married a mortal, which is unusual and is the reason for her dim star. Also, the name “Seven Sisters” is sometimes applied to other groups in mythology, such as the seven daughters of Atlas in some versions, but the standard Greek set is the one listed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the parents of the Pleiades?
Their parents are Atlas, the Titan, and Pleione, an Oceanid. Atlas was the son of Iapetus and Clymene, and Pleione was the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. This parentage is given in Hesiod’s Theogony (lines 383–385) and in later sources like Apollodorus’s Library.
Why is one Pleiad often called “the lost one”?
The “lost” Pleiad is usually Merope, because she married a mortal (Sisyphus) and thus her star is dimmer, or she hides in shame. Some versions say Electra is the lost one because she hides from grief over Troy. The idea of a “lost” seventh star is a folk explanation for why only six are usually visible to the naked eye.
Did the Pleiades have any children?
Yes, several. Maia had Hermes by Zeus; Electra had Dardanus and Iasion by Zeus; Taygete had Lacedaemon (by Zeus, according to some sources); Alcyone had Hyrieus by Poseidon; Celaeno had Lycus or Eurypylus by Poseidon; and Sterope had Oenomaus by Ares. Merope had no famous divine children, but she was the mother of Glaucus (by Sisyphus) in some accounts.
Are the Pleiades mentioned in the Bible?
Yes, the Book of Job (38:31) asks, “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” The Hebrew word Kimah is usually translated as “Pleiades.” The Bible does not give the sisters’ names, but it references the cluster as a known celestial object.
Do the Pleiades appear in other mythologies?
Yes, many. In Japanese, they are Subaru; in Hindu, Krittika; in Australian Aboriginal cultures, they are often a group of women; and in some Native American traditions, they are associated with dances or ceremonies. The specific names of the sisters are Greek, but the cluster itself is a cross-cultural symbol.
Related
- Gilgamesh in Mythology: Epic Hero Explained
- Ragnar Lothbrok in Mythology? The Real Legend
- Lancelot in Mythology? Origins & Legends
How pages are sourced and corrected: Sources and editorial policy.