Pleiades, in Greek Mythology, were, according to the most general account, the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, the daughter of Oceanus. Their history is differently related by the Greek mythologists: according to some authorities, they committed suicide from grief, either at the death of their sisters, the Hyades, or at the fate of their father, Atlas (q.v.); according to others, they were companions of Artemis (Diana), and, being pursued by Orion (q.v.), were rescued from him by the gods by being translated to the sky; all authorities, however, agree that after their death or translation they were transformed into stars. Their names are Electra, Maia, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope (the invisible one), and Merope. The group or constellation of the Pleiades, called the 'Seven Stars,' is placed on the shoulder of Taurus, the second sign of the Zodiac, and form, with the pole-star and the twin Castor and Pollux, the three angular points of a figure which is nearly an equilateral triangle. But, if looked at directly, only six stars are visible to the eye, though, if the eye is turned sideways, more can be seen; a good telescope shows fifty or sixty in the area. The photographic chart produced by M.M. Henry in 1888 shows 2326 stars, with nebulae intermixed.
The name Pleiad is frequently applied to reunions of poets in septenary groups; and this use of the word dates from the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus at Alexandria, who treated seven Greek poets with special distinction, and denominated them his pleiad. His example was followed by Charlemagne. But the name Pleiade is specially associated with a group of 16th-century French writers, of whom Ronsard (q.v.) and Du Bellay (q.v.) are the most notable, who endeavoured with marked result to reform the French language and literature after classical models. The other names are Lazare de Baif, ambassador at the diet of Spire; Jean Dorat, a celebrated Hellenist; Amadis Jamin; Etienne Jodelle; and Pontus de Thiard. In place of the two last, other authorities give Scévole de Saint Marthe and Marc Antoine Muret (q.v.); and instead of Jamin, Belleau.