Nēreĭdes

, nymphs of the sea, daughters of Nereus and Doris. They were 50, according to the greater number of the mythologists, whose names are as follows: Sao, A mph i trite, Proto, Galatæa, Thoe, Eucrate, Eudora, Galena, Glauce, Thetis, Spio, Cymothoe, Melita, Thalia, Agave, Eulimene, Erato, Pas i the a, Doto, Eunice, Nesea, Dynamene, Pherusa, Pro to mel i a, Actea, Panope, Doris, Cymatolege, Hippothoe, Cymo, Eione, Hipponoe, Cymodoce, Neso, Eupompe, Pronoe, Them is to, Glauconome, Halimede, Pontoporia, Evagora, Liagora, Polynome, Laomedia, Lysiana a, Autonoe, Menippe, Evarne, Psamathe, Nemertes. In those which Homer mentions, to the number of 30, we find the following names different from those spoken of by Hesiod: Halia, Limmoria, Iera, Amphitroe, Dexamene, Amphinome, Call i an ira, Apseudes, Call an a a, Clymene, Janira, Na a, Mera, Orythya, Am a the a. Apollo dor us, who mentions 45, mentions the following names different from the others: Glaucothoe, Pro to medusa, Pione, Plesaura, Calypso, Cranto, Neomeris, Dejanira, Polynoe, Melia, Dione, Isea, Dero, Eumolpe, Ione, Ceto. Hyginus and others differ from the preceding authors in the following names: Drymo, Xantho, Ligea, Phyllodoce, Cydippe, Lycorias, Cleio, Beroe, Ephira, Opis, Asia, Deopea, Arethusa, Crenis, Eurydice, and Leucothoe. The Nereides were implored as the rest of the deities; they had altars chiefly on the coast of the sea, where the piety of mankind made offerings of milk, oil, and honey, and often of the flesh of goats. When they were on the sea-shore they generally resided in grottos and caves which were adorned with shells, and shaded by the branches of vines. Their duty was to attend upon the more powerful deities of the sea, and to be subservient to the will of Neptune. They were particularly fond of alcyons, and as they had the power of ruffling or calming the waters, they were always addre ed by sailors, who implored their protection, that they might grant them a favourable voyage and a prosperous return. They are represented as young and handsome virgins, sitting on dolphins and holding Neptune’s trident in their hand, or sometimes garlands of flowers. Orpheus , Hymn 23.— Catullus , Marriage of Peleus and Thetis .— Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 11 , li. 361 , . — Statius , bk. 2 , Sylvæ , poem 2; bk. 3 , Sylvæ , poem 1.— Pausanias , bk. 2 , ch. 1 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 1 , chs. 2, & 3.— Hesiod , Theogony .— Homer , Iliad , bk. 18 , li. 39 .— Pliny , bk. 36 , ch. 5 .— Hyginus , .