Dione (mythology) facts for kids

Dione (pronounced Dee-OH-nee) is the name of several important women in ancient Greek mythology. Her name means "divine one" or "Goddess." It comes from the same root as the names Zeus and Diana.

Not much information exists about these different Dioness. However, at least one Dione was known for her beauty. She was sometimes linked to water or the sea. This same Dione might have been worshipped as a mother goddess at an ancient oracle in Dodona, Greece. Some stories even say she was the mother of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

One Dione is often called the mother of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. This is the same as being the mother of the Greek goddess, Aphrodite. But sometimes, Dione is also seen as another name for Aphrodite herself!

Dione the Titaness: Mother of Love?

One famous Dione was a Titaness. The Titans were a powerful group of gods and goddesses who came before the Olympian gods like Zeus. This Dione is sometimes called a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. This would make her an Oceanid, which is a type of water-nymph. Other stories say her father was Gaia (Earth) or Uranus (Sky).

Some ancient myths say that Dione and Zeus were the parents of Aphrodite. The poet Hesiod listed Dione as one of Zeus's wives. She was described as very beautiful in ancient "sacred books." She was also one of the goddesses who gathered to see the birth of the god Apollo.

The name Dione sounds like the Latin name Diana. It is also a female version of the name Zeus. This means Dione can be seen as the "goddess of the bright sky." Even with this sky link, she was also worshipped with Zeus as a goddess of springs. This makes her a water-goddess too.

Dione the Nymph: Rain and Sea

There were other important figures named Dione in Greek myths.

Dione of the Hyades

One Dione was part of the Hyades. These were nymphs known for bringing rain. This Dione was the daughter of Atlas, a Titan who held up the sky. Her mother was an Oceanid nymph, either Pleione or Aethra. This Dione married King Tantalus. They had two sons, Pelops and Broteas, and a daughter named Niobe.

Dione the Nereid

Another Dione was one of the 50 Mediterranean sea-nymphs called the Nereides. These beautiful nymphs lived in the sea. Like all Nereids, this Dione was a daughter of Nereus, the old man of the sea, and Doris.

Dione in Phoenician Myths

In some ancient writings about Phoenician history, a goddess named Dione is mentioned. The Phoenicians were an ancient people who lived near the Mediterranean Sea. This Dione was called a daughter of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth). She was also known as Baaltis.

She was the sister of Kronos (who is similar to the Greek god Kronos). Kronos later married Dione. He gave her the city of Byblos to rule. It's not totally clear if this Dione is the same as the Greek Titaness Dione. However, because of her name Baaltis and her link to Byblos, she is often thought to be Ba‘alat Gebal. This was the main goddess who protected the city of Byblos. Some experts also think she might be linked to the goddess Asherah.