Maia

Māia, Māja (written by Cicero Majja, like ejjus, pejjus, etc.; v. the letter J), ae, f., = Μαῖα.

• I Daughter of Atlas and Pleione, and the mother of Mercury by Jupiter, Cic. N. D. 3, 22, 56: Majā genitum demittit ab alto, i.e. Mercury, Verg. A. 1, 297: Maiā natus, Hor. S. 2, 6, 5; Ov. M. 11, 303; Macr. S. 1, 12, 19; acc. Majam, Ov. F. 4, 174.—As one of the Pleiades: sanctissima Maja, Cic. Arat. 270: multi ante occasum Majae coepere, Verg. G. 1, 225; Ov. F. 4, 174; 5, 85.—
• II A daughter of Faunus, Macr. S. 1, 12.

Māia, ae, f. (= die Hehre, v. maius, a, um), Tochter des Atlas und der Plejone, Mutter Merkurs, Cic. de nat. deor. 3, 56. Macr. sat . 1, 12. § 19; eine von den Plejaden, Cic. Arat. 36. Verg. georg. 1, 225: Maiā genitus, Merkur, Verg. Aen. 1, 297: ders. Maiā natus, Hor. sat. 2, 6, 5; u. Maiā creatus, Ov. met. 11, 303: Akk. Maiān, Ov. fast. 4, 174. – Dav. Māiadēs, ae, m., der Sohn der Maja, der Majade, v. Merkur, Prisc. 2, 34 (ohne Beleg).

2 Măia æ, f. , Maïa ¶ 1 fille dʼAtlas et de Pleioné, mère de Mercure : Cic. Nat. 3, 56 ; Hor. S. 2, 6, 5 ; Virg. En. 1, 297 ; Ov. M. 11, 303 || est aussi une des Pléiades : Virg. G. 1, 225 ; Cic. Arat. 34, 37 ; Ov. F. 4, 174 ¶ 2 fille de Faunus, divinité romaine incarnant le printemps, dont la fête se célébrait en mai : Macr. Sat. 1, 12.

Maia

(Μαῖα or Μαιάς), a daughter of Atlas and Pleiono (whence she is called Atlantis and Pleias), was the eldest of the Pleiades, and in a grotto of mount Cyllene in Arcadia she became by Zeus the mother of Hermes. Areas, the son of Zeus by Callisto, was given to her to be reared. (Hom. Od. 14.435, Hymn. in Merc. 3; Hes. Th. 938; Apollod. 3.10.2, 8.2; Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 219; Hor. Carm. 1.10. 1, 2. 42, &c. )

Maia is also the name of a divinity worshipped at Rome, who was also called Majesta. She is mentioned in connection with Vulcan, and was regarded by some as the wife of that god, though it seems for no other reason but because a priest of Vulcan offered a sacrifice to her on the first of May, while in the popular superstition of later times she was identified with Maia, the daughter of Atlas. It is more probable that Maia was an ancient name of the bona dea, who was also designated by the names of Ops, Fauna, and Fatua. (Macr. 1.12; Gellius, 13.22; Fest. p. 134, ed. Müller.) [L.S]

Maia

(Μαῖα). The daughter of Atlas and Pleioné, one of the Pleiades (q.v.), and mother of Hermes by Zeus. The Romans identified her with an old Italian goddess of spring, Maia Maiestas (also called Fauna, Bona Dea, Ops), who was held to be the wife of Vulcan, and to whom the flamen of that god sacrificed a pregnant sow on the first of May.

MAIA, see HADRIAN'S WALL

Maia Maia, daughter of Atlas

• one of the Pleiades: Apollod. 3.10.1
• bears Hermes to Zeus: Apollod. 3.10.1
• shows the infant Hermes to Apollo: Apollod. 3.10.2
• receives the infant Arcas from Hermes to bring up in Arcadia: Apollod. 3.8.2