Aréthuse

This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aréthousa (Ἀρέθουσα),” composed of two elements: “aretḗ ‎(ἀρετή)” (goodness, excellence, manliness, prowess, rank, courage, virtue, character, reputation, glory, fame, dignity, distinction) plus “eimí (εἰμῐ́) oûsa (οὖσα)” (to be, exist). In turn, the name means “the virtue of being alive or existing.” In Greek mythology, Arethusa (Ancient Greek: Aréthousa “Ἀρέθουσα”) was a nymph and daughter of Nereus, and later became a fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily. She was initially an Eleian Nymph who escaped to the fled to the island to escape the ardent pursuit of the river-god Alpheios. There she was transformed into the spring of the same name. Alpheios followed in her wake, flowing beneath the sea to spring forth anew on the Sicilian mainland and mingle his waters with hers. Arethusa is one of the Hesperides nymphs.