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Greek Mythology >> Nymphs >> Naiads >> Chione (Khione)

KHIONE

Greek Name

Χιονη

Transliteration

Khionê

Latin Spelling

Chione

Translation

Of Chios (island), Snow (khiôn)

KHIONE was the Naiad-nymph of a spring, well or fountain of the town of Khios (Chios) on the Aegean island of the same name. She was loved by the god Poseidon and, during a snowfall (khios), bore him a son named Khios--the eponymous first king of the island.

Another Khian Nymph was mother by Poseidon of Melos and Agelos, eponyms of the island's two other towns.


PARENTS

Perhaps the daughter of a local or mainland RIVER-GOD

OFFSPRING

KHIOS (by Poseidon) (Pausanias 7.4.8)


CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pausanias, Description of Greece 7. 4. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"Ion the tragic poet [C5th B.C.] says in his history that Poseidon came to the island [of Khios (Chios)] when it was uninhabited; that there he had intercourse with a Nymphe, and that when she was in her pains there was a fall of snow (khion), and that accordingly Poseidon called his son Khios (Chios). Ion also says that Poseidon had intercourse with another [Chian] Nymphe, by whom he had Agelos and Melas."

Pliny the Elder, Natural History 5. 136 (trans. Rackham) (Roman encyclopedia C1st A.D.) :
"This island [Chios] Ephorus [Greek historian C4th B.C.] designates by its ancient name of Aethalia, while Metrodorus and Cleobulus [Greek philosopher C6th B.C.] call it Khia (Chia) after the Nympha Chione, though some say that name is derived from the Greek word for snow."


SOURCES

GREEK

ROMAN

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.