In the vast expanse of the night sky, one of the most enchanting and easily recognizable constellations is that of the Pleiades — often called the Seven Sisters. But long before these stars captured the imaginations of stargazers and astronomers, they were woven into the rich tapestry of ancient Greek mythology. The story of the Pleiades is one of beauty, tragedy, divinity, and eternal pursuit, linking the heavens to the myths of gods, goddesses, and celestial romance.
Divine Origins: Daughters of Atlas and Pleione
In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven radiant daughters of the Titan Atlas and the oceanid nymph Pleione. Born on the sacred Mount Kyllini, the sisters were considered mountain nymphs, or oreads, and were intimately associated with nature, the forests, and the mountains. Their father, Atlas, is one of the most famous figures in Greek lore — the mighty Titan condemned to bear the weight of the sky on his shoulders as punishment by Zeus.
Their mother, Pleione, whose name is linked to the concept of abundance and sailing (as her daughters later became navigational stars), was a sea nymph. This celestial lineage granted the Pleiades not only their ethereal beauty but also their place among the divine retinue of gods and goddesses. The Pleiades were sisters to other notable figures in Greek mythology, including the Hyades (also associated with rain), the Hesperides (guardians of the golden apples), and the enigmatic nymph Calypso, who famously detained Odysseus on her island.
Celestial Companions of Artemis
The Pleiades were not merely passive beauties of the mythological world — they were closely aligned with the goddess Artemis, the virgin huntress and protector of maidens. As her loyal companions, the Pleiades served as handmaidens in her retinue. Together with the Hyades, they were also referred to as Atlantides, Nysiades, or Dodonides, and were said to have cared for the infant Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and ecstasy.

This association with Artemis also placed them under her divine protection — a fact that plays a significant role in their eventual transformation into stars.
Mortal Lovers and Divine Affairs: The Children of the Pleiades
Despite their close ties to the virgin goddess Artemis, the Pleiades were far from untouched by love — especially by the advances of the Olympian gods. Each sister was linked romantically to a powerful deity, resulting in a lineage of demigods and heroic figures who would shape Greek mythology:
- Maia, the eldest and most beautiful of the sisters, became the mother of Hermes, the swift messenger of the gods, after her union with Zeus.
- Taygete was also loved by Zeus, and their son was Lacedaemon, the legendary founder and first king of Sparta.
- Alcyone was beloved by Poseidon, the god of the sea. Together, they bore several children, including Hyrieus and Hyperenor.
- Electra had a powerful connection to Zeus, bearing Dardanus — the ancestor of the Trojans — and Iasion, a lover of the goddess Demeter.
- Celaeno (or Kelaino) united with Poseidon to bring forth Lycus and Eurypylus, future kings and warriors.
- Sterope (also called Asterope) was either the consort or mother of Oenomaus, the ill-fated king of Pisa, possibly through her union with Ares, the god of war.
- Merope, the only sister to marry a mortal man — Sisyphus, the cunning king condemned to eternally roll a boulder uphill — is often associated with shame. It is said that her star shines the faintest in the sky because of her mortal bond.
A Chase Through the Heavens: The Pursuit by Orion
One of the most haunting tales associated with the Pleiades is their relentless pursuit by the giant Orion, the great hunter of Greek mythology. Struck by their beauty, Orion fell hopelessly in love and began to chase the sisters across the Earth. The pursuit lasted for years, and the desperate sisters eventually turned to Zeus for protection.

In an act of divine intervention, Zeus transformed the Pleiades first into doves and then into stars, placing them safely in the heavens. However, even in the sky, Orion’s love remained undeterred. He, too, was immortalized as a constellation, and to this day, Orion the Hunter appears to chase the Pleiades across the night sky.
This myth adds a poignant layer of sorrow and beauty to the constellation, turning it into a celestial narrative of longing, escape, and transformation.
From Myth to Astronomy: The Pleiades Constellation
Astronomically, the Pleiades is an open star cluster located in the constellation Taurus. It is one of the nearest star clusters to Earth and also one of the most visible to the naked eye. The cluster contains over 500 stars, but typically only six or seven can be seen without a telescope — hence the name “Seven Sisters.”
The stars shine with a pale blue-white hue, indicating their relative youth and high temperature. Among the most prominent stars in the cluster are Alcyone, Maia, Electra, Merope, Taygeta, Celaeno, and Sterope — each named after one of the mythological sisters.

In antiquity, the rising and setting of the Pleiades were used as markers for the agricultural calendar. The cluster’s heliacal rising in late May signaled the arrival of the sailing season and the beginning of summer, while its disappearance in autumn heralded the coming of winter rains. Hesiod, one of the earliest Greek poets, referenced the Pleiades in his didactic poem Works and Days, where he offered seasonal guidance to farmers based on the constellation’s movements.
The Enduring Legacy of the Pleiades
The myth of the Pleiades has echoed across cultures and centuries, from the ancient Greeks to Native American tribes, the Japanese (who call the cluster Subaru), and countless others who saw in the sky not just stars, but stories.
In Greek mythology, the Pleiades are more than just celestial bodies — they are symbols of grace, tragedy, sisterhood, and divine transformation. Their story intertwines the fates of gods and mortals, love and sorrow, myth and astronomy. Whether admired as bright stars on a cold winter night or remembered as the loyal nymphs of Artemis fleeing from Orion, the Pleiades continue to shine — a timeless tribute to the wonder of the ancient world.