in Greek mythology, was the nymph of a fountain of the same name in Caria. She loved Hermaphroditus, the son of Mercury and Venus, who was possessed of extraordinary beauty; but he avoided her and despised her prayers. She therefore seized him in her embraces at a time when he was bathing in her fountain, and besought the gods to join her inseparably with him in case he should not listen to her plea. The prayer was heard, and Hermaphroditus, previously a man, thereafter united both the sexes in his person.