Maia
nymphMaia was the eldest and most beautiful of the seven Pleiades, a shy mountain nymph who bore Hermes to Zeus in a secret cave on Mount Cyllene.
The Myth
Maia lived alone in a deep cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, avoiding the company of gods. Zeus visited her at night while Hera slept. She bore Hermes, who was born at dawn and had stolen Apollo's cattle by noon. Maia was so reclusive that she played little further role in myth. The month of May is named after her (through the Roman Maia, with whom she was identified).
Parents
Atlas and Pleione
Symbols
Fun Fact
The month of May is named after Maia — the shy mountain nymph who wanted only to be left alone gave her name to one of the year's brightest months.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Apollo
godGod of light, music, poetry, and prophecy. Apollo embodied the Greek ideal of youthful masculine...
Arcadia
placeArcadia was both a real mountainous region in the central Peloponnese and an idealised landscape of...
Atlas
titanThe Titan who was condemned to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. His name...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...
Hermes
godThe swift messenger of the gods and guide of souls to the underworld. Hermes was the cleverest of...
Zeus
godSupreme ruler of the Olympian gods and lord of the sky. Zeus overthrew his father Kronos and...