Celaeno

Celaeno is a Latinized form of Kelaino, a name derived from the Greek adjective kelainos (κελαινός), meaning "black," "dark," or "murky." In Greek mythology, Celaeno (also spelled Celeno or Kelaino) is the name of several distinct figures, lending the name a rich and multifaceted mythological background.

Mythological Figures

The most well-known Celaeno is one of the seven Pleiades, daughters of the Titan Atlas and the oceanid Pleione. As a star-nymph, she was associated with the constellation Pleiades. By the god Poseidon, she was said to be the mother of Lycus and Nycteus (kings of Thebes), of Eurypylus (or Eurytus) of Cyrene, and of Lycaon.

Another Celaeno is one of the Harpies, monstrous creatures with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. In Virgil's Aeneid, Celaeno the Harpy appears to the Trojan hero Aeneas at the Strophades islands, delivering a prophecy about his future journey to Italy.

A third Celaeno is numbered among the Danaides, the fifty daughters of King Danaus. Her mother was Crino. In the mass wedding forced by Danaus, she was married to Hyperbius, son of Aegyptus, but she killed him on their wedding night, as did all but one of her sisters. She was also said to have borne a son, Celaenus, to Poseidon.

Additionally, a Celaeno appears as a daughter of the Phocian king Hyamus; by Apollo she became the mother of Delphus, the eponymous hero of Delphi.

Cultural and Astronomical Associations

Though a single mythological Celaeno is familiar, the name appears in astronomy: one of the stars in the Pleiades cluster is named Celaeno (also known as 16 Tauri).

While rare as a given name today, Celaeno has been used variably in English-speaking and mythologically-minded cultures, often chosen for its melodious sound and strong classical associations.

Related Names and Forms

The name is related to Kelaino (Greek original), and to the numerous other mythological figures bearing the root kelainos. As a form of a Danaid name, it is loosely connected to Danaus and his line.

• Originally: Feminine Greek given name
• Meaning: "Dark one" or "black" from Greek kelainos
• Usage regions: Greece, Latinized in English contexts, occasional use elsewhere