Nereids, the 50 daughters of Nereus and Doris

The Nereids or Sea Nymphs, from Greek mythology, are the fifty daughters of Nereus and Doris, who dwelled in the Aegean Sea. The Nereids were beautiful women, who were often depicted riding on Dolphins and Sea-horses. Thetis was their leader, and Amphitrite was the Queen of the Seas. The Nereids held in their care the rich bounty of the seas. They lived with their father, Nereus in a silvery cavern at the bottom of the Aegean Sea.

The Nereids were patrons of fishermen and sailors, often coming to their aid in times of need. They were even said to have guided Jason and the Argonauts on their journey through the Wandering Rocks at Hephaestus's forges on the island of Aetna, at the request of Hera.

Hesiod, an early greek poet included a passage, naming the Nereids, in his Theogony...

Proto, Eukrante, Amphitrite, and Sao, Eudora, Thetis, Galene, and Glauke, Kymothoe, Speio, Thoe, and lovely Halia, Pasithea, Erato, and Eunike of the rosy arms, graceful Melite, Eulimene, and Agaue, Doto, Proto, Pherousa, and Dynamene, Nesaia, Aktaia, and Protomedeia, Doris, Panope, and beautiful Galatea, Hippothoe the lovely and Hipponoe of the rosy arms, Kymodoke, who, with Kymatolege and Amphitrite the fair-ankled, easily calms the waves in the misty sea and the gusts of stormy winds, Kymo, Eione, and fair-wreathed Halimede, laughter-loving Glaukonome and Pontoporeia, Leiagora, Euagora, and Laomedeia, Poulynoe, Autonoe, and Lysianassa, Euarne of the lovely body and unblemished face, Psamathe of the graceful build, and splendid Menippe, Nesso, Eupompe, Themisto, and Pronoe, and Nemertes, whose mind is like that of her father. These were the daughters born to blameless Nereus, fifty of them, all wise in deeds of perfection

Hesiod, 8th century BC

The most notable Nereid was Thetis. Thetis married a mortal man, Peleus, and was the mother of Achilles. Greek mythology tells us that Thetis was determined her son, Achilles, would be immortal like herself. She worked her magic to ensure this, holding Achilles by his heel as she dipped him into the river Styx. Achilles' heel would be the only part, of Achilles, that was not touched by the magical waters of the river Styx and would prove to be his downfall. On hearing about the death of Achilles at the hands of Paris, Thetis rose up from the waters with the other Nereids and mourned Achilles, collecting his ashes in a golden urn, and building a monument to honour his memory.

Another notable Nereid was Amphitrite. Amphitrite was beautiful, so beautiful that when Poseidon saw her dancing among the other Nereids, he wanted to marry her. At first she refused and fled, but Poseidon sent a dolphin after her to plead his case and eventually she returned to marry Poseidon. Together they had a son, Triton, and a daughter, Rhode. The Island of Rhodes is said to be named after her.

If you enjoyed finding out about Nereids, you may also enjoy reading about the Oceanids