Arethusa (nymph in Greek mythology)

E54251

Arethusa is a nymph from Greek mythology associated with fresh water and springs, best known for her transformation into a fountain to escape the river god Alpheus.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Arethusa 0

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mythological figure
nymph
appearsOn ancient Syracusan coinage
associatedPlace Peloponnese via river Alpheus
associatedWith fountains
fresh water
Potamoi
surface form: river god Alpheus

springs
category Naiads
surface form: Naiad
companionOf Artemis
connectedWith river Alpheus
culture Greek mythology
epithet Arethousa
escapeFrom unwanted pursuit by Alpheus
escapeMethod divine transformation
gender female
genre classical mythology
hasIconography head of Arethusa on Syracusan coins
young woman emerging from water
hasMythCycle myths of Sicily and Syracuse
hasTheme divine protection of chastity
union of distant waters (Alpheus and Arethusa)
languageOfName Ancient Greek
literaryTradition Hellenistic poetry
Roman literature
locatedInMyth Ortygia
surface form: island of Ortygia near Syracuse
mythologicalMotif pursuit and metamorphosis
mythType water nymph
nameMeaningApprox the waterer
notableFor transformation into a fountain to escape Alpheus
protectedBy Artemis
pursuedBy Asopus
surface form: Alpheus
relatedConcept nymphs of Artemis
sacred spring
residence Ortygia
spring of Arethusa
roleInMyth attendant of Artemis
sourceText Callimachus' Hymn to Artemis
Ovid’s Metamorphoses
surface form: Ovid's Metamorphoses

Pausanias’ Description of Greece
surface form: Pausanias' Description of Greece
symbolOf chastity
freshwater springs
transformedInto fountain
spring
veneratedAs local water deity in Syracuse
vowedTo remain a virgin
worshipPlace Ortygia
Syracuse

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

HMS Arethusa namedAfter Arethusa (nymph in Greek mythology)