Nymphs In Greek Mythology

 

 

You may think a nymph, in Greek folklore female spirits of nature, is just a nymph, however, when it comes to Greek mythology, nothing is as simple as that!

 There are a myriad of different types often divided into separate groups such as water nymphs, mountain nymphs and tree nymphs, these, in turn, are separated into subgroups.

Take the water nymphs for example; there are river nymphs, sea nymphs, freshwater nymphs, lake nymphs, well nymphs and fountain nymphs, the list goes on.

Nymphs are without fail female spirits, not immortal goddesses exactly but rather the personification of nature in the form of alluring, irresistible and tantalizing young things, often taking the role of lovers to gods and heroes, or in some cases, their mothers.

 

 

They were especially know for being part of the entourage of some of the more lively gods, namely Pan, god of nature, depicted as a satyr with a dark hairy body and two horns on his forehead and the old rascal, deviant Dionysus, god of wine, merriment and pleasure.

A favorite pastime of nymphs was to frolic in the meadows and woodlands of Arcadia, or cavort in rivers, as naked as the day the Greek gods created them, in the company of salacious satyrs, the pleasure addicts of ancient Greece.

If I tell you the word nymphomania, originates from the ancient Greek word nymph, it will go a long way in helping you understand exactly what we are dealing with when it comes to  the nymphs of ancient Greece!

Nymphs have inspired some of the most enchanting paintings of all time.

 

Family Ties

 

 

Celestial and all water nymphs of ancient Greece, regardless of whether they were sea or freshwater nymphs, according to Greek mythology, are descendents of Oceanus, the Titan god of the River Oceanos, which encircled the entire world and Tethys, Titan goddess of bodies of water.

 Later generations of these nymphs were the offspring of Atlas, a Titan condemned to hold up the heavens or sky for eternity after the battle of the Titians against the Olympians and Pleione, an Oceanid nymph in Greek mythology, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.

The first generation of land Nymphs the Oreads, are said to be the offspring of ten siblings, five sisters and five brothers, known as the Daktyloi (the fingers), as their number corresponded with the ten fingers of the hands.

They were also known as the Hekaterides (the one hundred), as all together they had one hundred fingers; ten sets of ten fingers.

These siblings produced Satyrs and Oreiades, land nymphs who then went on to produce later generations of Oreiades.

 

 

Celestial nymphs – Associated with the sky, including breezes, clouds and stars:

The Aurai, the Hyades, the Pleiades, the Hesperides and the Nephelai

 

The Aurai

 

 

The aurai or aurae, are the winged nymphs of breezes, said to be a combination of the daughters of Boreas, the north-wind and the daughters of Oceanus and his wife Tethys (also mother of the river gods and the Oceanids).

The most well-known of these nymphs was the Titan-goddess Aura, personification of the breeze and the fresh air of early morning.

 

The Hyades

 

 

The Hyades, rain nymphs, a star cluster, said to be five in number, were the daughters of Atlas and Pleione, an Oceanid nymph in Greek mythology, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, the Titan God and Goddess of bodies of water, making them the sisters of the Pleiades, another star cluster.

Also known as “The weeping ones”, the Hyades, are said to have been placed in the sky by Zeus when he took pity on them after they couldn’t stop crying over the death of their brother, Hyas, who was killed in a hunting accident.

Ever since the Hyades have been associated with spring rain as their yearly rising and setting is invariably accompanied by plenty of April showers.

 

 

The ancient Greek poet Homer, mentions in his writings, that whilst being raised on Mount Nyseion, in Nysa, a magical, mythical land, Dionysus, Greek god of wine and pleasure, was nursed by the rain-nymphs, which accounts for the Hyades sometimes being referred to as the Nysiades.

 

The Pleiades (also classed as Oreads)

 

 

The Pleiades; Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, Sterope and Merope, were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione.

Their story resonates with that of their sisters, the Hyades, in as much as these nymphs were also placed in the sky as a star cluster, again a constellation associated with rain, after being unable to stop crying over the loss of their sisters, who were now permanent residents in the night sky.

When it comes to Greek mythology, there are usually many accounts of the same story, so it is with the Pleiades.

 Other versions have them placed in the sky after crying inconsolably for their father, Atlas, who had been transformed into stone, in fact a whole mountain range (which we know today as the Atlas Mountains), after a spat with the hero Perseus.

 

 

Yet another tale has the Pleiades, as followers of Artemis, goddess of the hunt, being chased all over the place by the hot-blooded hunter Orion.

At their wit’s end, not knowing how else to save their chastity, they pleaded with the gods to be transformed first into doves and then into stars.

Of the seven sisters, only one rebelled and took a human for a husband, either Sterope or Electra, depending on which myth you read, the punishment for her dirty deed was to be condemned to eternal invisibility.

This explains why only six of the seven sisters are visible in the night sky.

 

Hesperides

 

 

The Hesperides, “Daughters of the Evening”, whose name derives from hesperos (evening), origin of the name hesperus, the evening star, are the nymphs of the west and the sunset.

They are also known as the Atlantides, as legend has it, their father was the Titan Atlas.

Usually there are three Hesperides, however; there could be four or seven, again, when it comes to Greek mythology, it depends on which version you read.

Apollonius of Rhodes ancient Greek author and poet, tells us there are three; Aigle, Erytheis and Hespere, whist Hesiod, again an author and poet, would have us believe there are four; Aigle, Erytheia Hesperia and Arethusa, then again, the historian, Diodorus, states there are seven but apparently didn’t know their names.

 

 

The Hesperides tended to the Garden of the Hesperides (home to the myth of the Apple of Discord), which belonged to Hera, goddess of marriage, women and family, a grove in the west, rumoured to extend as far as Mount Atlas, where golden apples grew.

As the Hesperides were known to pinch the occasional apple, Hera placed Ladon, the immortal, never-sleeping, hundred-headed dragon to keep an eye on them.

 

Nephelai

 

 

The Nephelai, nymphs of clouds and rain, daughters of the river god Oceanus and Tethys the water goddess, floated up to the heavens from the river Oceanus, carrying with them water in jugs formed from clouds which they then poured down upon the earth, nourishing the ground and feeding streams.

As the youngest of all nymphs they were prominent amongst the sixty strong entourage of Artemis, goddess of the hunt.

 

 

They make an appearance in the ancient Greek tragedy ”Prometheus Bound” by playwright Aeschylus, where they sit before Atlas, as he recites the story of how became bound to bear the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

Zeus, watching the proceedings, becomes angry when he realizes the Nephelai are showing compassion for Atlas and is about to shoot them with his thunderbolts, when they are saved in the nick of time by Hermes, messenger of the gods, who warns them to make a run for it.

 

Land Nymphs – Oreiades or Oreads:

 Nymphs of Mountains, Hills, Forests, Rocky Slopes and Grottoes

 

 

 Oreiades or Oreads – Mountain Nymphs

Alseides – Grove Nymphs

Auloniades  Nymps of the Valleys, Pastures and Glens

Leimakides or Leimonides – Meadow Nymphs

Napaeae- Nymphs of the Dells

 

 

The oreads, mountain nymphs, take their name from ὄρος (oros), the Greek word for mountain; their individual names depended on which mountain they originated from, for example, the Idaeae were from Mount Ida and the Othreis from Mount Othrys.

The oreads were the eldest daughters of daughters of the five Daktyloi and the five Hekaterides, later generations were the decedents of the Oreiades and their brothers the satyrs.

As Artemis (Diana), Goddess of the hunt, preferred to hunt her prey in forests and hilly and mountainous areas, the Oreads were a large part of her entourage.

 

Tree Nymphs – Dryades and Hamadryads

 

 

Dryads

 

 

Dryads, tree nymphs, whose name derives from the Greek word for oak tree ( the principle tree of  ancient Greece, the ancient Greek word for oak, drys, was also the word for tree), in which they usually lived but they could also be found dwelling within ash, pine, poplar, apple and laurel trees.

They were shy beings, who led long lives, living closely to the tree they were protecting and were usually found in sacred groves of the gods.

Dryads are thought to have had beneficial, supernatural powers and were frequently mentioned in poetry, plays, theater, and in music.

Dryads lived close to or near the tree but not within it whilst a hamadryad, lived inside the tree itself.

They are respected and worshiped in pagan ritual to this day.

 

Hamadryad

 

 

A hamadryad is a Greek mythological being that lives in trees; some would have it that a hamadryad is the tree itself, with a dryad being simply the spirit.

Hamadryads, were actually tied to trees and if the tree died, then they died, if the tree blossomed, they blossomed, this is the reason the Greek gods punished any mortals who harmed trees.

 

Water Nymphs

 

 

Naiads – Freshwater Nymphs

 

 

Crinaeae – Nymphs of Fountains and Wells

Limnades – Lake Nymphs

Pegaeae – Nymphs of Springs

Potameides – River Nymphs

Heleionomae – Nymphs of the Wetlands

 

 

Naiads were the nymphs of flowing, freshwater with the appearance of beautiful young women who ruled over wells, springs, brooks, rivers and lakes and had quite a reputation for being jealous and vindictive little sprites but keen to do favours.

 In some myths, they protect young maidens.

Each water source had its own naiad. So if something happened to that water source, its naiad died.

Their fathers were the Potamoi, ancient Greek river gods; sons of Oceanus, making the naiads his granddaughters.

 

Oceanids  and  Nereids – Saltwater Nymphs

 

 

In Greek mythology, the Oceanids are the 3,000 daughters of Oceanus, the Titan god of the River Okeanos, which encircled the entire world and Tethys, goddess of Fresh water.

Their brothers were the Potamoi, the personifications of the major rivers of the world.

In contrast to most nymphs in Greek mythology, who were thought to be insignificant little sprites; Oceanids were immensely powerful.

Some were the personification of divine blessings, e.g:, Metis – wisdom, Klymene – fame, Plouto – wealth, Tykhe – good fortune, Telesto –  success and Peitho – persuasion.

Sea nymphs, were worshipped by sailors, who would ask for them for protection during storms and other dangers, before embarking on long sea journeys.

Before setting out to Cholcis, on their quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason and the Argonauts, offered flour, honey and sea water to the Oceanids and even went as far as sacrificing bulls to them.

 

Nereids

 

 

In Greek mythology, the Nereids, sea nymphs, are the fifty daughters of Nereus, a sea god, called by Homer, “Old Man of the Sea,” known for his gift of prophecy and ability to shape shift.

Their mother is the Oceanid, Doris, one of the three thousand daughters of Oceanus; father of the river gods, who was also the great river which encircled the whole world.

The Nereids, depicted as graceful women, draped in golden-edged, white silk robes, with red coral wreaths adorning their heads, portray all that is beautiful and good about the sea.

 

 

These alluring sea nymphs, dwelt with their father, Nereus, deep within the depths of the Aegean Sea, in a palace made from gold.

Nereids were revered in many parts of ancient Greece but they were especially held in high regard in harbour towns as they were known to be friendly and helpful to sailors.

 

Lampades – Nymphs of the Underworld

 

 

 

The Lampades, also known as Avernales, were torch-bearing nymphs of the underworld which were given to Hecate, Greek goddess of witchcraft, by her husband Zeus, in appreciation for her loyalty during the clash of the Titan gods with the Olympian gods.

They lit the way with their torches for Hecate during her night-time goings on and were the divine counterparts of the officials who carried torches at the Eleusinian Mysteries

One of the Lampades was Orphne, wife of Acheron, god of the River Acheron in Epirus, known as the «River of woe.” one of the five rivers of the ancient Greek underworld, the mythical gateway to Hades, second only to the greatest river in the world, the Oceanus.

Their son was Ascalaphus, keeper of the orchards of Hades.

 Some versions of their myth tell of how the light of the Lampads’ torches had the ability to drive people mad and they loved playing tricks on people, even going as far as to lead travelers to their death.

On the other hand, some accounts say that they helped people.

 

Nymphs in Love

 

 

Nymphs appear in numerous Greek myths; one, the story of how Galatea the sea nymph, one of the fifty daughters of the ‘Old Man of the Sea’ Nereus and the sea nymph, Doris, became Pygmalion’s ivory statue, was made famous with George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion, a modern version of the myth, which later inspired the 1956 musical; My Fair Lady.

Most people think of Galatea as the statue from the Greek myth, where king Pygmalion of Cyprus, a sculptor, created and fell in love with an ivory statue, which was then brought to life by the goddess Aphrodite.

Originally, though, Pygmalion’s statue never had a name.

It was only centuries later, after the myth became popular with Renaissance artists, that it was given the name of the sea nymph, Galatea, probably owing to the fact that her name means milky-white.

Other myths, such as Eurydice (A wood nymph) and Orpheus, Echo (an oread) and Narcissus, Apollo and Daphne (a river nymph) and Clyte (a sea nymp) and Helios, make up some of the saddest love stories of Greek mythology.

 

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