Maia.
The hidden mother
Maia: Mother of HermesIn a secluded mountain cave, gives birth to —and discovers that her newborn is already a master of mischief.
More than a myth.
, a daughter of , lives apart from the other gods in a shadowed cave on Mount Cyllene. The describes her secret union with and the birth of their remarkable son.
leaves his cradle almost immediately, invents a lyre, and steals ’s cattle. scolds him when he returns, but he is already planning his place among the immortals. Her quiet retreat provides a memorable contrast to the restless energy of the messenger god.
There’s more to the myth.
Lesser-known moments, places of worship, and stories that change with the storyteller. Follow each reference to the ancient voices behind it.
Back in the cradle
The has the infant thief return to ’s cave and pretend to be an ordinary baby. She is not fooled. answers her rebuke with a plan to win honors and offerings for them both, turning domestic comedy into the beginning of his career.
READ THE SOURCEHomeric Hymn to Hermes 142 onwardThe raising of Arcas
The says entrusts the infant Arcas, son of Callisto, to after his mother’s death. This brief notice gives her a connection to Arcadian beyond . It also reminds us that caring for a child and appearing as that child’s parent are different relationships.
READ THE SOURCEPseudo-Apollodorus, Library 3.101 (Aldrich numbering)One of seven sisters
The lists with Alcyone, Merope, Celaeno, Electra, Sterope and Taygete as daughters of and Pleione, born on Mount Cyllene. The group opens a wider Pleiad family around her. The atlas includes selected figures; these named sisters extend the story beyond the nodes currently on screen.
READ THE SOURCEPseudo-Apollodorus, Library 3.110 (Aldrich numbering)One figure. Many visions.
Maia, reimagined in 12 art styles. Follow familiar symbols through unfamiliar worlds, and open any artwork for a closer look.
Maia
Echoes in Plaster
Maia
Dreams of the Cosmos
Maia
The Floating World
Maia
Ink & Thunder
Maia
The Gilded Garden
Maia
Small Worlds, Great Myths
Maia
A Cathedral of Light
Maia
Blueprints of Myth
Maia
Threads of Eternity
Maia
Greek Myth, in Print
Maia
Little Figures, Big Legends
Maia
Beyond the Oracle
New AI-created interpretations, inspired by mythology. These are not images of ancient artifacts.
It’s a family affair.
is a of descent, grouped here with the Titan family. Mythic generations can overlap.
The stories of Maia.
Ancient voices.
Enduring stories.
Myths have many tellings. These are the ancient works behind this profile, linked to freely available English translations.
Theogony
Lines 938–939
Hymn to Hermes
Lines 1–20, 142–183
Explore the collected passages
Ancient testimonies, alternative versions and depictions, gathered by Theoi.