Herse is a name from Greek mythology meaning "dew, raindrops" in Greek. It refers to both a personification and a mortal figure. Etymology The name Herse is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἕρση (hérsē), meaning "dew." In Greek cosmology, dew was often personified as a minor goddess associated with moisture and the night sky. Mythological Figures Personification of Dew According to Greek myth, Herse was the personification of dew and a daughter of the Titan moon goddess Selene and Zeus. She was closely associated with her sister Ersi (also spelled Ersa), who personified dew as well. The two figures likely represent a characteristic duplication found in Greek mythology. Daughter of Cecrops Another notable Herse was a princess of Athens, one of the three daughters of King Cecrops (the mythical founder of Athens). Along with her sisters Aglauros and Pandrosos, she was entrusted by Athena with a basket containing the infant Erichthonius, which they were forbidden to open. As recounted in sources such as Apollodorus' Library, when they disobeyed and opened the basket, they saw a serpent guarding the child and were driven mad, leaping to their deaths from the Acropolis. Consort of Danaus A third Herse appears as a wife of King Danaus of Libya according to Hippostratus (as cited by later scholia). Danaus had many wives; with Herse he fathered daughters Hippodice and Adiante, who married sons of Aegyptus and murdered them on their wedding night in accordance with Danaus' orders. Related Forms The variant Ersi (Greek: Ἔρση) is a modern Greek rendering of the same name, while Herse is more literary and classical. Meaning: Dew, raindrops Origin: Greek Type: First name Usage regions: Greece, mythological contexts Variant: Ersi