52. Atlas & Pleione - & The 7 Sisters

Pleione lived in a southern region of Greece called Arcadia, on a mountain named Mount Kyllini. She married the Titan Atlas and gave birth to the Hyades, Hyas and the Pleiades. She was also the protectress of sailing.

Greek mythology offers a more direct reference to the Pleiades. They were the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and sea-nymph Pleione. Pursued relentlessly by Orion, a giant huntsman, their narrative culminated in their transformation into doves and, subsequently, stars to escape his advances. This tale of pursuit and transformation resonates with ecofeminist sentiments. The Pleiades' story becomes a symbolic representation of nature's (and women's) exploitation and the subsequent longing for metamorphosis and liberation. It speaks to the ecofeminist critique of patriarchal systems that perpetuate dominance over both women and the environment, emphasising the need for transformational change.