Amphitrite

Painting (c.1610) of Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) entitled "The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite." Click on image for full size (114K JPEG) Image courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art: The George W. Elkins Collection.

Amphitrite was one of the sea-nymphs called the Nereids. One day the sea god Poseidon saw her dancing and fell desperately in love with her. He promptly asked her to marry him but unfortunately she refused.

Not discouraged by Amphitrite's refusal, Poseidon (Neptune) sent one of his servants, a dolphin to convince her. The dolphin pleaded Neptune's cause so well that she changed her mind. Neptune and Amphitrite married and as a reward for his help, Neptune placed the image of the dolphin among the stars as the constellation Dolphinus, the Dolphin.

Among their children was a son, Triton, whose name was given to the principal moon of the planet Neptune. They also had a daughter, Rhodes after whom is named the island of Rhodes.

The next largest moon of the planet Neptune was discovered by Gerard P. Kuiper in 1949 and named Nereid to celebrate Amphitrite.