Nymphae
（
Νύμφαι, properly “the young
maidens”). Inferior divinities of nature dwelling in groves, forests, and caves,
beside springs, streams, and rivers; in some cases, too, on lonely islands, like Calypso and
Circé. The nymphs of the hills, the forests, the meadows, and the springs (called
in Homer daughters of Zeus, while Hesiod makes the nymphs of the hills and the forests,
together with the hills and the forests, children of earth) appear as the benevolent spirits
of these spots, and lead a life of liberty, sometimes weaving in grottoes, sometimes dancing
and singing, sometimes hunting with Artemis, or revelling with Dionysus. Besides these
divinities it is especially Apollo, Hermes, and Pan who are devoted to them and seek after
their love; while the wanton satyrs are also continually lying in wait for them. They are well
disposed towards mortals, and ready to help them; they even wed with them. According to the
various provinces of nature were distinguished various kinds of nymphs: nymphs of rivers
(
Ποταμηΐδες) and springs, the Naiads (
Νηΐδες), to whom the Oceanids (
Ὠκεανίδες) and Nereïds (
Νηρηΐδες）
are closely related; nymphs of the hills, Oreads (
Ὀρειάδες); nymphs of the forests and trees, Dryads (
Δρυάδες) or Hamadryads (
Ἁμαδρυάδες); besides
this they often received special names after certain places, hills, springs, and grottoes. The
Naiads, as the goddesses of the nourishing and fructifying water, were especially rich in
favours, giving increase and fruitfulness to plants, herds, and mortals. Hence, they were also
considered as the guardian goddesses of marriage, and the besprinkling of the bride with
spring-water was one of the indispensable rites of the marriage ceremony. On the same
principle, legendary lore represents them as nursing and bringing up the children of the gods,
as, for instance, Zeus and Dionysus. Further, owing to the healing and inspiring power
of many springs, they belong to the divinities of healing and prophesying, and can even drive
men into a transport of prophetic and poetic inspiration. The Muses themselves are, in their
origin, fountain-nymphs. Popular belief assigned to the nymphs in general an exceedingly long
life, without actual immortality. The existence of Dryads, it was supposed, was closely bound
up with the origin and decay of the tree in which they dwelt. They enjoyed divine honours from
the earliest times, originally in the spots where they had power, at fountains, and in groves
and grottoes. In later times shrines of their own, hence called Nymphaea, were built to them,
even in cities. These eventually became very magnificent buildings, in which it was customary
to celebrate marriages. Goats, lambs, milk, and oil were offered to them. Works of art
represented them in the form of charming maidens, lightly clothed or naked, with flowers and
garlands; the Naiads drawing water, or carrying it in an urn. They appear as the attendants of
Hermes, the deity of herdsmen; of Pan, of Artemis, and of Apollo—this last in the
prophetic character.
