ASTERIONIDES
Greek Name
Νυμφαι Αστεριωνιδες
Transliteration
Nymphai Asteriônides
Latin Spelling
Nymphae Asterionides
Translation
Nymphs of Asterion
THE ASTERIONIDES were three Naiad-nymph daughters of the river Asterion in Argos (southern Greece). They were the nurses of the infant goddess Hera.
PARENTS
ASTERION (Pausanias 2.17.1)
NAMES
EUBOIA, PROSYMNA, AKRAIA (Pausanias 2.17.1)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
ACRAEA (Akraia). A daughter of the river-god Asterion near Mycenae, who together with her sisters Euboea and Prosymna acted as nurses to Hera. A hill Acraea opposite the temple of Hera near Mycenae derived its name from her. (Paus. ii. 17. § 2.)
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 17. 1-2 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Fifteen stades distant from Mykenai (Mycenae) is on the left the Heraion (Heraeum, Temple of Hera). Beside the road flows the brook called Water of Freedom (Hydros Eleutherion). The priestesses use it in purifications and for such sacrifices as are secret. The sanctuary [of Hera] itself is on a lower part of Euboia (Euboea). Euboia is the name they give to the hill here, saying that Asterion the river had three daughters, Euboia, Prosymna, and Akraia (Acraea), and that they were nurses of Hera. The hill opposite the Heraion they name after Akraia, the environs of the sanctuary they name after Euboia, and the land beneath the Heraion after Prosymna. This Asterion flows above the Heraion, and falling into a cleft disappears. On its banks grows a plant, which also is called asterion. They offer the plant itself to Hera, and from its leaves weave her garlands."
NAMES OF THE ASTERIONIDES
Greek Name
Ακραια
Ευβοια
Προσυμνα
Transliteration
Akraia
Euboia
Prosymna
Latin Spelling
Acraea
Euboea
Prosymna
Translation
Of the Heights (akraios)
Well-Cattled (eu, bous)
Celebrate in Song (prosymneô)
SOURCES
GREEK
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.