Greek Mythology >> Nymphs >> Oreads >> Othreis

OTHREIS

Greek Name

Οθρηις

Transliteration

Othrêis

Latin Spelling

Othreis

Translation

Of Mount Othrys

OTHREIS was an Oreiad-nymph of Mount Othrys in Malis, northern Greece. She was loved by the gods Zeus and Apollon and bore Meliteus to one and Phagros to the other.

Othreis may have been identified with the Thessalian nymphe Kyrene (Cyrene) and her son Meliteus (Of the Bees) with the rustic-god Aristaios (Aristaeus).

PARENTS

Perhaps a daughter of the River SPERKHEIOS

OFFSPRING

[1] PHAGROS (by Apollon) (Antoninus Liberalis 13)
[2] MELITEUS (by Zeus) (Antoninus Liberalis 13)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 13 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Zeus and the Nymphe Othreis had a child, Meliteus (Bee-Man). In fear of Hera because of her own intercourse with Zeus, his mother exposed the child in a wood. By the will of Zeus the child was not lost to sight but was fed by bees and began to grow. As he was pasturing his sheep, Phagros (Phagrus), son of Apollon and Othreis the Nymphe, the same mother of this babe in the wood, chanced to come across him. Marvelling at how well-fed the child was, and even more at the bees, he gathered him up and took him home [to Phthia]. He brought him up with great care and gave him the name Meliteus (Bee-Man) because he had been nourished by bees."