aretuse

Aretuse is an alternative spelling of Arethusa, a name used for a figure in Greek mythology and for places associated with her legend. The form appears in various languages and historical texts, and it is most commonly linked to a mythic river- or sea-nymph and to locations named after her.

In Greek myth, Arethusa is a spring nymph tied to a celebrated freshwater source near Syracuse, Sicily. The best-known version of her story describes Arethusa being pursued by Alpheus, the river god. To preserve her innocence and freedom, the gods cause the waters of the spring and the river to mingle underground, so that the two flows remain joined even as Arethusa escapes.

Geographically, the name survives in Sicily as Fontana Arethusa, a historic fountain on the island of Ortigia in Siracusa. The fountain is a well-known landmark and a focal point of the local mythos, attracting visitors who associate it with the Arethusa spring and its legendary waters.

Culturally, Arethusa has appeared in classical and later poetry and art, where the name evokes themes of spring, purity, and the interaction of different waters or realms. The Italian form Aretusa is commonly used in literary and historical contexts to refer to either the mythological figure or the fountain.

Etymology and variants: the name derives from Ancient Greek Arethousa, with spellings such as Arethuse and Aretusa appearing in Latin, Italian, and other traditions. The term is primarily used in mythological, geographic, and literary contexts.