Semystra (nymph) explained

Semystra (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Σημύστρα) or Semestra was a nymph, in Greek mythology.

Mythology

Semystra nurtured Keroessa, daughter of Io and Zeus. Keroessa's mother gave birth at Semystra's altar and left the baby there in order to protect her from Hera. Semystra found the infant and raised her.^{[1] [2]}

According to a legend, Semystra was also the mother of Byzas, who was the founder of Byzantium.^{[3] [4] [5]}

The city of Semystra was named after her and there was an altar of her there.^{[1] [2]}

Notes and References

1. https://topostext.org/work/619#24 Dionysius of Byzantium, Anaplous of the Bosporos, §24
2. https://archive.org/details/anaplousbosporou00dion/page/12/mode/2up Anaplous Bosporou. Dionysii Byzantii De Bospori navigatione quae supersunt; una cum supplementis in geographos graecos minores aliisque ejusdem argumenti fragmentis e codicibus MSS. edidit Carolus Wescher, p.12
3. http://www.mediterra.org/wp-content/uploads/Byzantion-A-Foundation-Legend-from-Myth-into-History-.pdf Byzantion: A Foundation Legend, from Myth into History, p. 40
4. FGrHist 390 F7.
5. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02435580/document Anca Dan. The Europeans Shores of the Bosporus. I∆ΥMA MEIZOOΣ EΛΛHIΣMOΥ. Eγκυκλoπαιδϵια M ϵιζoνoς Eλληνισμoυ, Kωνσταντ ινoυπoλη, 2008. ffhal-02435580f, p. 4