Himalia (mythology)

This article is about the mythological figure. For Jupiter's irregular moon, see Himalia (moon).

Not to be confused with The Himalayas.

In Greek mythology Himalia (/hɪˈmeɪliə/; Ancient Greek: Ἱμαλίας) was a nymph of the eastern end of the island of Rhodes.

Mythology

According to Diodorus Siculus, after Zeus subdued the Titans, he became enamoured with Himalia. The latter produced three sons with him, Spartaeus, Kronios, and Kytos: no further information about them survives.

Jennifer Larson observes that the dictionary compiler Hesychius of Alexandria gives ίμαλιά. denoting an abundance of wheat meal, and notes the agricultural connotations of the sons' names: "Spartaios recalls sowing, and Kytos means a basket or jar. Kronios denotes a descendant of Kronos, the god of the Golden Age", a mythic time of ease and abundance.

References

• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
• Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888-1890. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.