Hyades in Greek mythology, the daughters of Atlas and sisters of the Pleiades who nursed the infant Dionysus; as a reward, they were placed as stars in the head of the constellation Taurus. In another version of the story, they were changed into stars by Zeus out of compassion for their bitter mourning for their brother Hyas.

The name of the constellation comes from Greek Huades, by folk etymology from huein ‘to rain’ (in reference to their weeping), but perhaps from hus ‘pig’, the Latin name of the constellation being Suculae ‘little pigs’.

Hyades group of stars near the Pleiades. XVI. — Gr. húades fem. pl., prob. f. hūs SOW1.