Greek deities series |
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Water deities |
Nymphs |
In Greek mythology, Melia (Ancient Greek Μελία, Μελίη) was an Oceanid, one of the 3,000 water nymph daughters of the Titans Oceanus and his sister-spouse Tethys.[1] She was the mother of culture hero Phoroneus, and Aegialeus[2] (or Phegeus[3]), by her brother Inachus, the river-god of Argos.[4] However, in some accounts, Inachus fathered Phoroneus by an Oceanid nymph named Argia.[5] According to Argive tradition, Phoroneus was the first man, or first inhabitant of Argos, who lived during the time of the Great Flood, associated with Deucalion.[6]
Melia was also said to have been the mother, by Inachus, of Mycene, the wife of Arestor, and eponym of Mycenae.[7] Melia was also perhaps considered to be the mother, by Inachus, of Io,[8] the ancestress, by Zeus, of the Greek dynasties of Argos, Thebes, and Crete.[9]
The consort of Apollo, who was an important cult figure at Thebes, was also said to be a daughter of Oceanus named Melia.[10]