March 23: World Meteorological Day

In ancient times, getting a son was the primary task of every woman, mortal or immortal. But in the household of the titan Atlas and the ocean nymph Pleione, only girls were born. Three sisterhoods to be precise: the Pleiades, the Hesperides, and the Hyades. The Pleiades became a star cluster, and the Hesperides garded Hera’s garden. The Hyades still lived at home, when finally a boy was born, little Hyas. His father brought him up to be a hunter, and the Hyades would indulge his every wish. Sadly, Atlas couldn’t complete his training, because he was charged with sustaining the firmament. Hyas quickly grew overconfident, and ventured to go on the hunt for a lion. He failed, and was unalived by his prey instead. Hyas’ sisters were heartbroken and couldn’t stop crying. Their immense grief touched Zeus’ heart, and he put them at the night sky, near their father Atlas, for them to mourn together. The sisters never stopped weeping, so when the Hyades appear at the night sky, expect lots and lots of rain.

Atlas, Laconian Vase, Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy

Atlas, metope (temple of Zeus, Olympia), Musée du Louvre, Paris, France