Helike (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Helike (/ˈhɛlᵻkiː/; Greek: Ἑλίκη, pronounced [heˈlikɛː], modern Greek pronunciation: [eˈlici]) was a name of several women. One was a nymph and one was a Queen of Chios.

Helike nurtured god Zeus in his infancy on Crete.

Her name suggests that she was a "willow-nymph", just as there were oak-tree nymphs and ash-nymphs (Dryads and Meliae).

It is likely that she is the same as Ide.

Helike was in antiquity a common proper name for the constellation Ursa Major.

Queen Helike was a wife of King Oenopion of Chios and their children were:

This Helike was a wife of a man called Ion and mother of woman called Bura.

Ion built the city and named it after his wife. They were wed by Selinus.