The Pleiades, as well as the Hyades, are part of the constellation Taurus the Bull.
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The Pleiades
According to the ancient Greeks, the Pleiades were seven sisters. In Greek, the word "pleiades" means "doves." Their parents were Pleione and
Atlas who was condemned by
Zeus to support the Heavens on his
shoulders.
One day, the Pleiades were traveling with their mother and met the hunter
Orion.
Orion fell in love with Pleione and her charming daughters. He spent a great deal of time chasing after them, trying to win their affection. After several years, Zeus intervened and transformed the women
into doves to help them escape. They flew into
the sky to become the cluster of stars that today has their name.
However, only six stars are visible in the sky without a telescope. The ancient Greeks explained the absence of a seventh star with several different stories. According to one story, one of the Pleiades, Merope deserted her sisters because she was ashamed of having a mortal husband, who also happened to be a criminal.
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