In Greek mythology, Helice (/ˈhɛlɪsiː/ (modern Greek pronunciation: [eˈlici]; Ancient Greek: Ἑλίκη [heˈlikɛː] Helike) means "willow"[1]) was a name of several women:
- Helice, nurse of the god Zeus and nurtured him in his infancy on Crete.[2] Her name suggests that she was a "willow-nymph", just as there were oak-tree nymphs and ash-nymphs (Dryads and Meliae). It is likely that she is the same as Ide.
- Queen Helike, wife of King Oenopion of Chios and mother by him of Melas, Talus, Maron, Euanthes, Salagus, Athamas[3] and Merope.
- Helike, wife of Ion and mother of Bura. Ion built the city and named it after his wife. They were wed by her father Selinus.
- Helike, in antiquity, a common proper name for the constellation Ursa Major.[4]
References
- ^ Robert Graves. The Greek Myths (1960), section 28 s.v. Orpheus
- ^ Aratus, Phaenomena 27 Archived 2005-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 7. 4. 8
- ^ Aratus, Phaenomena, translation by A. W. Mair, G. R. Loeb