Melite

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A Naiad by John William Waterhouse, 1893. This picture shows the Naiad Melite finding Hercules who would become her lover. He is sleeping in one of his Animal Skins. This picture clearly shows Hercules more gentle Greek half despite the considerable amount of attention his Roman more violent and robust half receives.
A Naiad by John William Waterhouse, 1893. This picture shows the Naiad Melite finding Hercules who would become her lover. He is sleeping in one of his Animal Skins. This picture clearly shows Hercules more gentle Greek half despite the considerable amount of attention his Roman more violent and robust half receives.

Melite was one of the naiads, daughter of the river god Aegaeus, and one of the many loves of Zeus and his son Hercules. Given the choice, she chose Hercules over the aging Zeus who went off in search of other pursuits. She gave birth to Hercules's sons Hyllus and/or Hylas.

Hercules tried to find refuge on the mythical island of Scheria, widely considered to be the island of Corfu in modern Greece, after fighting a war he had caused. He decided to rest near a lake. This lake happened to be the place in which Melite and her sisters were currently residing. When Melite saw Hercules she hid him away from her siblings in a deeper and darker part of the lake where she made love to him and he to her. The two then traveled to another part of the island and stayed there until Melite gave birth to her twins, who they named Hylas and Hyllus.

Zeus was in a rage over her choice of a mortal over him, and so he appealed to her father who would not let her have anymore children with Hercules or any sexual contact whatsoever. Hercules promptly left Melite for other mortals. She was one of the women who were there mourning the death of Hercules.

Melite was also the name of one of the Nereids.