Nymphs in Greek Mythology

Nymphs Basics | Types of Nymphs

Nymphs (Greek plural: nymphai) are mythological nature spirits that appear as beautiful young women. Etymologically, the word nymph is related to the Greek word for bride. Nymphs are often shown as lovers of gods and heroes, or as their mothers. They can be nurturing, as those of Nysa were to Dionysus when he was young, or to Hephaestus, when he was tossed off Olympus and landed in Lemnos by a parent (either Hera or Zeus). There, Eurynome and Thetis, who were Nereids, which is a class of nymphs, tended him. Thetis, not only a Nereid but the mother of Achilles, also helped Zeus and Dionysus when they were in trouble.

Nymphs cavort with satyrs, particularly in depictions of Dionysus. Dionysus and Apollo are their leaders. Not uncommonly, some share their names with the places they inhabited. For example, one of these eponymous nymphs is Aegina. Rivers and their personifications often share names. Examples of associated natural bodies and divine spirits aren't limited to Greek mythology. Tiberinus was god of the Tiber River in Rome, and Sarasvati was a goddess and river in India.

Nymphs are divided into types:

• Acheloids (from the river Achelous)
• Alseids (groves)
• Dryads (forests)
• Hamadryads (trees)
  The children of Hamadryas, from Deipnosophists ('Philosopher's Banquet', by Athenaeus, written in the 3rd century A.D.):
  1. Aegeirus (the poplar)
  2. Ampelus (the vine)
  3. Balanus (the acorn-bearing oak)
  4. Carya (the nut-tree)
  5. Craneus (the cornel-tree)
  6. Orea (the ash)
  7. Ptelea (the elm)
  8. Suke (the fig-tree)
• Hydriads (water)
• Leimoniads (meadows)
• Meliads (ash trees)
• Naiads (springs and rivers)
• Nereid (the Mediterranean)
• Oceanids (the sea)
• Oreads (mountains)
• Napaea (valleys)

Some are immortal, but although they are naturally long-lived, many nymphs can die. Nymphs can cause metamorphoses (the Greek word for changing shape, usually into plants or animals, as in the novel by Kafka and the book of mythology by Ovid). Women can also be changed into nymphs.

Some of the more famous nymphs are

• Amalthea
• Anna Perenna
• Arethusa
• Calypso (Nymph-Goddess who entertained Odysseus)
• Creusa (Daughter of Gaia and the river god Peneus)
• Echo
• Egeria (cared for Athens' founder-hero, Theseus' son Hippolyte; she taught the second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius)
• Harmonia (mated with Ares to produce the Amazons; Harmonia's necklace features in the story of Cadmus of Thebes)
• Syrinx
• Thetis
• Thousa (mother of Polyphemus, the cyclops in the Odyssey who eats several of Odysseus' companions when they were uninvited houseguests)