| Different Types of Nymphs |
| Encounters With Nymphs |
| Notable Nymphs |
| Origins of the Nymphs |
| Where Are They Now? |
| Nymphs in The Iliad (reference) |
| Nymphs in The Odyssey (reference) |
| Other Text References |
Nymph is a general term for the goddesses who coexist with rivers, springs, mountains or any type of natural life-form. The name Nymph literally means Bride.
The goddess Nymphs were first mentioned in the ancient Greek texts after the mutilation of Ouranos (the Heavens). The Triton Kronos (Cronos) was prompted by his mother Gaia to attack his father Ouranos when he became overbearing and oppressive. Kronos attacked Ouranos with a sickle made of flint and cut off his male members. The Meliae (Meliai), i.e. Nymphs of the Ash Trees, were created from the blood which Ouranos bled into Gaia. When it came time for Kronos to step aside and allow his children to rule from Mount Olympos (Olympus), he and the other Titans refused to relinquish their authority without a fight. Kronos's son Zeus summoned all the Immortals who he thought might help him in the war against the Titans ... all of the Nymphs came to Zeus's assistance. From that time onward, Nymphs have been called the Daughters of Zeus even though he was not their actual father.
Nymphs have assumed the form of young, beautiful women with a loving and supportive nature. They have been the consorts of the Immortals and even taken mortal men as their lovers and companions. The children of Nymphs have lived lives as poets, soldiers and ordinary men and women. The role of the Nymphs was generally quite passive but there were instances where they have become vengeful and assertive.
One of the most dramatic encounters between a Nymph and a mortal man occurred when one of the Argonauts was abducted by a Naiad, i.e. a water Nymph.
While on their way to the land of Kolchis (Colchis) to retrieve the Golden Fleece, the Argonauts came to the Kianian (Cianian) land by Mount Arganthon and near the outfall of the Kios (Cius) River, i.e. slightly north of modern Istanbul. Before they could make landfall, the winds failed and the Argonauts were forced to row the Argo. Herakles (Heracles) was trying to inspire the other Argonauts by setting a rapid pace but his zeal and strength snapped his oar in half.
When the Argo landed, Herakles went in search of a tree to make a new oar but his steward Hylas went to get water for the evening meal. Hylas found a spring called Pegae and just as Hylas arrived at the spring, the local Nymphs began their evening songs in praise of the goddess Artemis (goddess of the Hunt). The Nymphs came from the hills and the glens to sing for the goddess and just as a Naiad was rising from the spring, Hylas approached. The moon was full and Aphrodite (goddess of Love) filled the Nymphs's mind with confusion and desire. When she saw Hylas's youthful beauty and sweet grace as he knelt by the spring, she reached up with her right hand and placed it behind his neck ... she grabbed his elbow with her other hand and pulled him into the water. Hylas was never seen by mortal men again.
When the Argonauts were on the island home of the cursed prophet Phineus, they met a man named Paraebios (Paraebius).
Although Phineus was plagued with hunger and old age for his offenses against the Immortals, he still gave prophetic council to his neighbors. Paraebios came to Phineus because no matter what he did or how piously he behaved, his life was filled with hardship and disappointment. Phineus perceived correctly that Paraebios was being punished for the youthful arrogance of his father. Paraebios's father had been chopping wood in the mountains when a Hamadryad begged him not to destroy her oak tree. In his prideful disregard for the Immortals, Paraebios's father chopped down the tree and thus killed the Nymph who shared its life. At her death, the Nymph cursed Paraebios's father and his descendants until the proper rituals were performed and forgiveness was granted.
Paraebios was destined to toil without reward until he repented and atoned for his father's despicable actions. On Phineus's advice, Paraebios built an altar and offered prayers and sacrifices to the Thynian Nymph so that he might be relieved of his inherited burden. The sin was forgiven and Paraebios honored Phineus by bringing him food even though he knew that, due to the Immortal's curse on Phineus, the Harpies would steal it from the prophet's mouth.
Throughout his life, Dionysos was always accompanied by Nymphs, Satyrs and Maenads but the relationship between Dionysos and Nymphs began when he was very young.
Before he was old enough to enjoy the lascivious behavior of the Satyrs and Maenads, Dionysos was raised by the Nymphs of Mount Nysos (Nysa), i.e. the Nysaean Nymphs or Nyseides. The location of Mount Nysos is disputed but it is either in Phoenicia near the streams of Aegyptus (the Nile) or in Upper Egypt in Ethiopia. When he grew to adulthood, Dionysos became the god of Wine ... his name means, God of Nysos, i.e. Dios-Nysos.
There was a brutish man named Lykurgos (Lycurgus) who had proven his fighting skills and strategy but he made a tragic mistake when he attacked the Nymphs of Nysos. Lykurgos raged down the slopes of Mount Nysos with an ox-goad and scourged the Nymphs who cared for young Dionysos. The Nymphs dropped their wands to the ground and fled for their lives. Dionysos was so terrified of Lykurgos that he jumped into the sea to escape the murderous brute. The goddess Thetis saved Dionysos but the assault was not unnoticed or un-forgiven by the other Immortals. Zeus blinded Lykurgos but Lykurgos did not live long with his affliction because all the Immortals hated him for what he had done to Dionysos and the Nymphs of Nysos.
An interesting and touching event involving Nymphs occurred after the death of King Eetion of Thebes.
During the ten long years of the Trojan War, the Achaean (Achaian) Greeks raided different cities and islands to supply their army. When Achilles was leading a raid on the city of Thebes, he encountered King Eetion and his seven sons. Being the ultimate warrior, Achilles killed Eetion and his sons ... King Eetion's daughter Andromache escaped the carnage and married Prince Hector of Troy.
Achilles showed respect for King Eetion by not stripping him of his armor after he killed him. Achilles then burned Eetion's body and made a burial mound for the king's remains. The mountain Nymphs were so moved by Eetion's death, they planted elm trees over the burial site.
On the island of Ithaka (Ithaca) there is harbor of Phorkys (Phorcys), the Old Man of the Sea ... on the shoreline of the harbor, an olive tree shades a pleasant and sacred cave which was made hallowed by the dancing feet of the Nymphs of the Wellspring.
When Odysseus returned to Ithaka after his prolonged adventures following the Trojan War, he was put ashore near the cave of the Nymphs. The goddess Athene (Athena) showed him the cave and explained that the Nymphs used the large stone looms in the cave to weave their purple webs, i.e. fabrics.
Odysseus prayed sincerely to the Naiad Nymphs and promised them gifts if they would bless his homecoming. Odysseus did not see the Nymphs of the cave but, again at the advice of Athene, stored the treasures he had accumulated in the cave until he could make sure his kingdom was secure after his twenty year absence.
Abarbare - The consort of Boukolion (Boucolion) and mother of the twins, Pedasos (Pedasus) and Aisepos (Aesepos). Pedasos and Aisepos were both killed in the final year of the Trojan War (circa 1240 BCE).
Aegina (Aigina) - One of the daughters of the river god Asopos (Asopus) and the sister of Thebe, Kerkyra (Cercyra), Sinope and Antiope ... the island Aegina was named after her.
Agriope - The wife of Orpheus who was usually known as Eurydike (Eurydice). Agriope was pursued by Apollon's son Aristaios and as she was fleeing from Aristaios, bitten by a poisonous snake and died. After her death, Orpheus was so distraught that he ventured into the Underworld in an attempt to bring her back to the sunlight. Orpheus used his wit and talent to charm Hades (lord of the Underworld) and Agriope (Eurydike) was allowed to return to the surface of the earth provided that Orpheus lead the way and not look back to see if she was following him. At the very last moment Orpheus was compelled to look around and, by doing so, Agriope was returned to the land of the dead and lost to Orpheus until he also died.
Anchiale - The mother of the Idaean (Idaian) Daktyls who dwelt on Mount Ida on the island of Crete ... the Daktyls were famous for their skills as metal workers and magicians.
Arethusa - A Nymph who was changed into a spring by the goddess Artemis to save her when she was being pursued by the river god Alpheios (Alpheius). There is some confusion as to the exact location of Arethusa's spring ... it is either: 1) on the island of Ortygia which is located in the harbor of Syracuse on the island of Sicily, or 2) near the city of Chalkis (Chalcis) on the island of Euboea.
Aria - The mother of Miletos (Miletus) by Apollon. Miletos founded a city in Karia (Caria) in Asia Minor which was named after him.
Asterodeia - A Nymph from the Caucasus Mountains who was the consort of King Aietes (Aeetes) of Kolchis (Colchis). Asterodeia and Aietes had a son named Apsyrtos who was killed by his half-sister Medeia (Medea) and Jason after they had taken the Golden Fleece and were fleeing Kolchis.
Daphne - The huntress Nymph who was determined to have no lovers and remain pure. A young man named Leukippus (Leucippus) fell in love with Daphne and in an effort to be close to her, disguised himself as a girl and joined Daphne and some other Nymphs on a hunting expedition. While the Nymphs were bathing, Leukippus was discovered to be a man and they killed him. Daphne was later pursued by Apollon but the river god Peneios (Peneus), who was perhaps her father, saved her from Apollon by turning her into a laurel tree.
Echidna - The daughter of Kallirhoe (Callirhoe) ... Echidna is "like nothing human," half Nymph with a fair face and the body of an enormous serpent ... she lives apart from the other Immortals underground ... Echis means Viper.
Echo - A mountain Nymph who was pursued by the Goat-God Pan but resisted his amorous advances. Pan changed her into a voice that can only repeat the last word spoken to her ... her name literally means "a returned sound."
Ethemea - The wife of King Merops and the mother of Eumelus ... she was slain by Artemis (goddess of the Hunt) for irreverence.
Kallisto (Callisto) - A Nymph who was an attendant of Artemis (goddess of the Hunt) and became the consort of Zeus. Kallisto was the daughter of Lykaon (Lycaon) and lived in Arcadia; she would occupy herself with the wild beasts of the mountains with the goddess Artemis; she was seduced by Zeus and became pregnant; when Artemis saw Kallisto bathing, she was enraged to see that her companion was pregnant and changed Kallisto into a bear; her child was born and she named him Arkas (Arcas); mother and son were eventually captured by some goatherds and returned to her father, Lykaon; Kallisto violated the law by going into the precinct of Zeus and was hunted down by Arkas and other Arcadians; Zeus saw her plight and placed her in the heavens as the constellation the Great Bear; her name literally means Most-Beautiful.
Kalypso (Calypso) - The sea Nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia.
Kyrene (Cyrene) - Apollon became infatuated with Kyrene and took her as his lover ... he removed her to Libya and turned her into a Nymph so that she could have long life and live as one of the Immortals. Kyrene and Apollon had a son which they named Aristaios who was also called Hunter and Shepherd.
Lampetia and Phaethousa (Phaethusa) - The daughters of Neaira (Neaera) and Hyperion. Lampetia and Phaethousa are the Nymphs who attend the herds of cattle, sheep and oxen for Helios (the Sun) on the island of Thrinakia. Odysseus and his men were warned by the Dread Goddess Kirke that if they ate the herds of Helios all but Odysseus would be killed before they could reach their homes. Finally, hunger drove them to desperation and they sealed their doom by killing and eating the forbidden animals.
Larissa (Larisa) - The Nymph for which the city of Larissa, Thessaly was named.
Leiriope - The Nymph who, in union with the river Kephisos (Cephisus), was the mother of the beautiful and vain man named Narkissos (Narcissus).
Leukippides (Leucippides) - The daughters of Leukippus (Leucippus) who were Nymphs worshiped at Sparta.
Libya - The daughter of Epaphos (Epaphus) and Memphis ... the consort of Poseidon (lord of the Sea) and the mother of Agenor.
Oenone - A Nymph of Mount Ida who was the lover of Alexandros (Paris) but was deserted by him for Helen.
Oinoie (Oenoe) - A water Nymph ... the consort of Thoas and the mother of Sikinos (Sicinus).
Nephele (Cloud) - Helle and Phrixus were the children of King of Athamas Orchomenos (Orchomenus) and Nephele. Athamas rejected Nephele for the mortal woman named Ino who then plotted to have Phrixus offered as a human sacrifice. Nephele and the god Hermes devised the escape of Helle and Phrixus on a magical ram with a Golden Fleece ... the youths flew away from Orchomenos on the ram but Helle fell from its back and drowned in the sea ... the Hellespont (Helle's Sea) was named after her.
Phaesyle, Koronis (Coronis), Kleeia (Cleeia), Phaeo and Eudora were the daughters of Atlas who were turned into the stars of the asterism Hyades in the constellation Taurus (the Bull). The name Hyades means Raining Ones and implies that the sisters rise in the sky during the rainy season.
Pitys - The Nymph who resisted the affection of the Goat-God Pan and was transformed into a pine tree.
Syrinx - A Nymph who was loved by the Goat-God Pan and was turned into a reed so that she might escape him.
Thebe - The daughter of Asopos (Asopus) and the sister of Aegina (Aigina) ... Thebe was the wife of Zethos. Zethos and his brother Amphion built the foundations and bulwarks of the city Thebes that was eventually named after Thebe.
Thoosa - The consort of Poseidon (lord of the Sea) and the mother of the Cyclops, Polyphemos (Polyphemus).
There are literally countless numbers of Nymphs. Where did they all come from?
There are several instances where we are told how certain Nymphs were created but that does not account for even a small percentage of the total.
The Meliae (Meliai) are the Nymphs born from the blood of Ouranos (the Heavens) at the time of his mutilation at the hands of his son, Kronos (Cronos) ... they are collectively called the Nymphs of the Ash Trees. We are not told how many Meliae there are or their names.
Several daughters of Atlas are Nymphs who were placed in the heavens as the star cluster known as the Hyades ... the sisters are: Eudora, Kleeia (Cleeia), Koronis (Coronis), Phaeo and Phaesyle.
Kalypso (Calypso) is also a daughter of Atlas and is perhaps the most famous Nymph because she was the lover and protector of Odysseus after he became lost on his voyage home after the Trojan War.
Without doubt, the largest number of Nymphs for which we know their parentage are the daughters of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys. These Nymphs are called Okeanids, i.e. daughters of Okeanos. There are three thousand Okeanids and we know the names of only a few. They are what seamen sometimes call mermaids. They are the protectors of the oceans and their inhabitants.
The remainder of the Nymphs are of unknown origin. They are often referred to as Daughters of Zeus but that should not be taken too literally because that title is also used for Aphrodite (goddess of Love) and we know that she was not an actual daughter of Zeus and, in fact, preceded him by at least one generation.
That leaves us with the compelling question ... From where did the Nymphs come? Speculation might be interesting but will in no way answer the question with any lasting satisfaction.
The simple answer is ... We do not know the origins of the majority of the Nymphs.
Are Nymphs still with us? When asked that question, I'm sure most people will say "No ... definitely not ... Nymphs are mythological and in no way real." Well, that might sound convincing but actions speak louder than words. People who say that sort of thing might have called on Nymphs for divine assistance without realizing what they're doing or why they're doing it.
How often have you heard someone (perhaps even yourself) say "Knock on wood"? For example: if someone says, "I'm sure that the weather will be perfect for my vacation" and then has a negative thought that they might have jinxed themselves by saying something like that ... they will then say "Knock on wood" as they rap their knuckles lightly on something made of wood ... that combination of word and deed will call forth the Nymph from the wood to act as a protector.
So ... are the Nymphs still with us? Yes ... yes they are.
Nymphs with an infant, perhaps Erechtheus
A Nymph riding a River God
