Halia
nymphA sea nymph of Rhodes who bore six sons and a daughter to Poseidon before throwing herself into the sea in grief.
The Myth
Halia was a nymph of Rhodes, sister to the Telchines — those mysterious metalworkers and sorcerers who were among the island's first inhabitants. Poseidon fell in love with her, and she bore him six sons and a daughter, Rhode, for whom the island was eventually named.
The six sons grew to be arrogant and violent. When Aphrodite passed through Rhodes on her way from Cythera, they insulted her and refused her landing. The goddess of love cursed them with madness, and in their insanity they assaulted their own mother. Halia, in despair, threw herself into the sea. The Rhodians worshipped her thereafter as Leucothea — the 'white goddess' — a benevolent sea spirit who protected sailors. Her mad sons were driven underground by Poseidon and became the Eastern Demons of Rhodian folklore.
The story of Halia is really the story of Rhodes itself: a place where the ancient powers of sea and craft gave way to the Olympian order, not without violence and grief.
Parents
A Telchine sister
Symbols
Fun Fact
Halia's name comes from hals, the Greek word for sea or salt — the same root that gives us 'halogen' and 'halite' in modern chemistry.
Explore Further
Rhode
nymphA sea nymph, daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite (or Aphrodite), who gave her name to the island of...
Aphrodite
godGoddess of love and beauty, born from the sea foam. Aphrodite's power to inspire desire was so...
Aphrodite (Golden One)
godThe goddess born from sea-foam whose power over desire could override the will of gods and mortals...
Leucothea
godSea goddess who rescued drowning sailors, formerly the mortal princess Ino.
Olympia
placeOlympia was the sanctuary in the Peloponnese where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four...
Poseidon
godLord of the seas and brother of Zeus. Poseidon's moods shaped the oceans — calm seas for those who...
Poseidon (Earth-Shaker)
godPoseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes whose moods determined whether sailors lived or...
Poseidon Hippios
godAn epithet of Poseidon as lord of horses, reflecting his role as creator of the first horse and...
Telchines
creatureMysterious sorcerer-smiths of Rhodes who forged Poseidon's trident and Cronus's sickle but were...
Aegina
nymphA river nymph abducted by Zeus and brought to the island that bears her name.
Arethusa
nymphArethusa was a nymph of Artemis who was pursued by the river god Alpheus and transformed into a...
Beroe
nymphA nymph born to Aphrodite and Adonis, whose hand in marriage was contested by Poseidon and Dionysus.