Μαια
- A daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes (Table 25). Her mother was Pleione which meant that she was one of the Pleiades. There was another legend which claims that her mother was Sterope. Maia was a Nymph of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, and there is an affair with Zeus she conceived Hermes. Her legend is very insubstantial. Apart from her link with Hermes she only appears as Arcas' nurse after the death of Callisto.
- In very early times in Rome there was a goddess called Maia who probably had no connection, originally, with the Greek Maia. She appears to have been the supporter of Vulcan the fire god, to whom the month of May was particularly dedicated. After the introduction of Hellenism she became identified with her namesake and was said to be the mother of Mercury.
{E2 DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY}
Table of Sources:
(1)
- Hom. Od. 14,435;
- Hesiod, Theog. 948;
- Serv. on Virgil, Aen. 8,130;
- schol. on Pind. Nem. 2,10 (16);
- Aeschylus, Choeph. 813;
- Diod. Sic. 3,60;
- Apollod. Bibl. 3,10,1-3; 3,8,2.
(2)
- Aul. Gell. Noct. Att. 13,23,1ff.;
- Censor. De Die Nat. 22,12;
- Macrob, Sat. 1,12,19;
- Joann. Lyd. De Mensibus 4,52.