Alcyone

Alcyone (or Halcyone), in Greek mythology, was

(1) the daughter of AEgiale by Aolus, a model of unspotted fervent love. Her husband led an unusually happy life with her, and left her only once to ask the advice of an oracle. He was shipwrecked and drowned. Alcyone made daily sacrifices to Juno for the safe return of her loved one, but Juno was not able to receive sacrifices the object of which was impossible to be realized. She therefore instructed Pluto to acquaint Alcyone with the calamity that had befallen her husband. Pluto informed her, and in a moment of utter despair she threw herself into the sea just as the body of her husband was washed ashore. The gods transformed both into birds (halcyones), from whose appearance is derived the expression halcyon days, signifying days of sweet rest.

(2.) The daughter of Atlas and mother of the Pleiades, and. by Neptune mother of several children: AEthusa, Hyrieus.( father of Orion ), Hyperenor, and Anthas.

(3.) A surname of Cleopatra, the wife of Meleager, the famous victor over the Calydonian boar.