MAIA

Description

MAYA 

In Greek mythology, Maia or Maia (Greek for "little mother") is the eldest of the Pleiades, the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. She and her sisters, born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, are sometimes called mountain goddesses. Maia was the eldest, the most beautiful, and the shyest.

According to the Homeric hymn, Maia gave birth to Hermes with Zeus in the cave on Mount Cyllene. After giving birth to the child, Maia wrapped him in blankets and went to sleep. The rapidly growing infant Hermes crawled away to Thessaly, where on the evening of his first day he stole some of Apollo's cattle and invented the lyre. Maia refused to believe Apollo when he claimed that Hermes had been the thief, and Zeus agreed. Apollo eventually exchanged the cattle for the lyre.

Maia also raised the infant Arcas to protect him from Hera, who had turned his mother, Callisto, into a bear.

In Roman mythology, Maia or Maya was the goddess of spring, and as such the month of May was named in her honour.