The Pleiades are the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. The Pleiades were the virgin companions of Artemis.
When Orion, a beautiful hunter, pursued them and their mother, they prayed to the gods for rescue. The gods answered they prayer by changing them into doves, and later into stars.
Zeus placed them in the sky (where they now form part of the constellation called "Taurus".)         The Pleiads are Alcyone, Electra, Celaeno, Maia, Sterope, Merope and Taygete.

      Alcyone: (Pronunciation {al-sy'-uh-nee} )Also called Halcyone
Symbolized by a kingfisher, seduced by Zeus. Wife of Ceyx, (king of Thessaly). When Ceyx died in a shipwreck, Alcyone threw herself into the sea. The gods changed them into the halcyon birds. Since Alcyone made her nest on the beach, which waves threatened to destroy. Aeolus had the power to stop waves during her egg laying time each year. The halcyon became a symbol of tranquillity. The name means "The Queen who wards off storms".

      Electra was the wife of Thaumas, mother of the goddess Iris and the Harpies. Electra was seduced by Zeus. She gave birth to Dardanus, founder of Troy.

      Celaeno was the lover of Poseidon and had Lycus with him. Some sources say she was the mother of Deucalion with Prometheus.

      Maia was the eldest of the daughters, and said to be the most beautiful. Being shy, she lived quietly and alone in a cave on Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia.

Zeus came to her cave at night and make love to her. As a result, Maia bore Zeus a son, Hermes.

Who stole some cattle from Apollo, Zeus made him give them back but he charmed Apollo with his playing of the lyre, and Apollo was so enchanted by the music that he dropped the charges, gave some of the cattle to Hermes, and other gifts.

Later, Maia helped Zeus when Hear had caused the death of one of his other mistresses, Callisto, whose son, named Arcas. Zeus gave Arcas to Maia to raise as her own.

      Sterope, also known as Asterope, was the wife of Ares by whom she had a son, Oenomaus, the king of Pisa in Elis.

      Merope also called Aero lived on Chios, and was often pursued by Orion. Merope did not love Orion and married a mortal, Sisyphus. When Zeus placed The Pleiades in the sky, since Merope married a mortal, she became the faintest star.

      Taygete also called Taygeta, was loved by Zeus but she prayed for Artemis to help her. Artemis turned her into a doe, but Zeus took advantage of her when she was unconscious and she gave birth to Lacedaemon.

      Orion was the son of Neptune (Poseidon). He was a handsome giant and a mighty hunter.

He dwelt as a hunter with Diana (Artemis), with whom he was a favorite, and it is even said she was about to marry him. Apollo didn't like him and when Orion wading through the sea with his head just above the water, Apollo challenged out to his sister that she could not hit that black thing on the sea. The archer-goddess shot the deadly arrow with fatal aim.

Crying over her fatal error with many tears, Diana placed him among the stars, where he appears as a giant, with a girdle, sword, lion's skin, and club. Sirius, his dog, follows him, and the Pleiads fly before him. [The constellation, Orion}

Where he was always chasing the Pleiads. And so these stars were born .