Did you know that the stars that make up Pleiades are thought to represent the seven daughters of Greek mythological figures Atlas and Pleione.

Here’s a little about each of the sisters that you might find interesting.

Alcyone  – translated to mean ‘queen who wards off evil’ it is the central and largest star of the Pleiades constellation. Alcyone is often seen as representing the whole group of stars.

Asterope – a double star in the Pleiades constellation, literally translates to mean ‘lightening’.

Merope - was the only Pleiad to marry a mortal, and the star that she represents shines less brightly than those that represent her sisters.

Maia - The eldest of the Seven Sisters, Maia was said to have surpassed her sisters in beauty. According to the Greek myth Maia was a lover of Zeus and gave birth to Hermes.

Taygeta  – Taygeta yielded to Zeus' advances only when unconscious, ashamed, she went into hiding. To protect her from Zeus, she was transformed into a doe.

Celaeno  - Celaeno was married to Poseidon. Translated, her name means "darkness" or "blackness". Celaeno is sometimes referred to as the Lost Pleiad as her star is sometimes difficult to see with the naked eye.

Electra  - The third brightest star in the constellation, Electra means ‘amber’, ‘shining’ and ‘bright’. Electra was the wife of Corythus. She was seduced by Zeus and gave birth to Dardanus, who became the founder of Troy.

Atlas  – The father of the seven sisters, it is said that Atlas worked out the science of astrology and discovered the spherical nature of the stars.

He is best known for bearing on his shoulders the pillars that keep earth and heaven apart.

But why are there seven daughters and only six stars? This is where the theory of the Lost Pleiad emerged - only six are visible to the naked eye!