Clytie is an Oceanid Nymph in Greek Mythology, who was a devoted lover of the sun god, Helios.
Bust of Clytie by Hiram Powers (created in the 19th century).
Genealogy and Family[]
Clytie is one of the 3,000-4,000 daughters of Oceanus and Tethys and a sister of the Potamoi.
Stories[]
Clytie loved the sun god, Helios in vain. One day, Helios was struck by Aphrodite to fall in love with the mortal princess Leucothoe, as revenge for Helios revealing to Hephaestus, his wife, Aphrodite's affair with Ares. This caused a helplessly enamoured Helios to seek out and start a relationship with Leucothoe, who went on to sleep with her. Clytie, having been abandoned by the love of her life, was angered by Helios' actions, so much so that she told Princess Leucothoe's father, Orchamus of Helios' and Leucothoe's relationship hoping this would lead to her rekindling back with Helios. After learning of his daughter having out of wedlock intercourse, Orchamus had to put her to death, by burial in sand. Helios arrived too late to save the mortal and instead of bringing them together, this pushed Helios and Clytie even further apart as Helios' heart hardened towards the Oceanid and he avoided her. In repentance and in hopes of winning Helios' heart back, Clytie stripped and sat on the rocks for nine days without food and water, staring at the sun, but Helios the God and Personification of the sun refused to look at her. After nine days, Clytie morphed into a Heliotrope flower, also known as the Turnsole (which grows on sunny, rocky hillsides).
Trivia[]
Clytie's story of turning into a flower is similar to the story of the Naiad, Daphne turning into a tree, to avoid Apollo. However Clytie's story has been recognised as unique in Greek Mythology for her being in love with an unwilling God.
Clytie is also called Clytia.
Her name means "glorious" or "renowned" in Ancient Greek.
The Ancient Greek spelling of Clytie is Κλυτίη.