The Nephelai (or Nephelae) were the Okeanid nymphs of clouds and rain who rose up from the earth-encircling river Okeanos bearing water to the heavens in cloudy pitchers. With their rains, the Nephelai nourished the earth and the fed the streams of their River-god brothers. The Nephelai were depicted as beautiful, young women pouring water from pitchers, like their sisters, the Naiades of the springs, or as women flitting across the sky with billowing robes.
The cloud nymphs tended to be the younger of the Okeanides which is why many Nephelai such as Hyalê and Nephele were among the maidens who were part of Artemis' hunting party. This however is not always the case, Okeanis had two Nepheai named Nephele, one was a follower of Artemis the other married a mortal (King Athamas).
Parents
Okeanos & Tethys
Amphitryon sets his wife Alkmene on a burning pyre, after she claims to have lost her virginity to Zeus on the bridal night when the god came to her in the guise of her own husband. Zeus gazes down from heaven and despatches the Nephelai (clouds) to quench the flames.
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