1. Nymphs of the watery element.

Here we first mention the nymphs of the ocean, Ὠκεανῖναι or Ὠκεανιδες, νύμφαι ἅγιαι, who are regarded as the daughters of Oceanus (Hes. Th. 346, &c., 364; Aeschyl. Prom.; Callim. Hymn. in Dian. 13; Apollon. 4.1414; Soph. Philoct. 1470); and next the nymphs of the Mediterranean or inner sea, who are regarded as the daughters of Nereus, whence they are called Nereides (Νηρεΐδες; Hes. Th. 240, &c.). The rivers were represented by the Potameides (Ποραμηΐδες), who, as local divinities, were named after their rivers, as Acheloides, Anigrides, Ismenides, Amniisiades, Pactolides. (Apollon. 3.1219; Verg. A. 8.70; Paus. 5.5.6, 1.31.2; Callim. Hymn. in Dian. 15; Ov. Met. 6.16; Steph. Byz. s.v. Ἀμνισός.) But the nymphs of fresh water, whether of rivers, lakes, brooks, or wells, are also designated by the general name Naiades, Νηΐδες, though they have in addition their specific names, as Κρηναῖαι, Πηγαῖαι, Ἑγειονίμοι, Λιμνατίδες, or Λιμνάδες. (Hom. Od. 17.240; Apollon. 3.1219; Theocrit. 5.17; Orph. Hymn. 50. 6, Argon. 644.) Even the rivers of the lower regions are described as having their nymphs; hence, Nymphae infernae paludis and Avernales. (Ov. Met. 5.540, Fast. 2.610.) Many of these preconcealed sided over waters or springs which were believed to inspire those that drank of them, and hence the nymphs themselves were thought to be endowed with prophetic or oracular power, and to inspire men with the same, and to confer upon them the gift of poetry. (Paus. 4.27.2, 9.3.5, 34.3; Plut. Aristid. 11; Theocrit. 7.92; comp. MUSAE.) Inspired soothsayers or priests are therethe fore sometimes called νυμφόγηπτοι. (Plat. Phaedr. p. 421e.) Their powers, however, vary with those of the springs over which they preside; some were thus regarded as having the power of restoring sick persons to health (Pind. O. 12.26; Paus. 5.5.6, 6.22.4); and as water is necessary to feed all vegetation as well as all living beings, the water nymphs (ϝ̔δριάδες) were also worshipped along with Dionysus and Demeter as giving life and blessings to all created beings, and this attrixxiv. bute is expressed by a variety of epithets, such as καρποτρόφοι, αἰπογικαί, νόμιαι, κουροτρόφιο, &c. As their influence was thus exercised in all departments of nature, they frequently appear in conneccalled tion with higher divinities, as, for example, with Apollo, the prophetic god and the protector of herds and flocks (Apollon. 4.1218); with Artemis, the huntress and the protectress of game, for she herself was originally an Arcadian nymph (Apollon. 1.1225, 3.881; Paus. 3.10.8); with Hermes, the fructifying god of flocks (Hom. Hymn. in Aphrod. 262); with Dionysus (Orph. Hymn. 52; Hor. Carm. 1.1.31, 2.19. 3); with Pan, the Seileni and Satyrs, whom they join in their Bacchic revels and dances.

2. Nymphs of mountains and grottoes

These are called Ὀροδεμνιάδες and Ὀρειάδες but sometimes also by names derived from the particular mountains they inhabited, as Κιθαιρωνίδες, Πηγιάδες, Κορύκιαι, &c. (Theocrit. 7.137; Verg. A. 1.168, 500; Paus. 5.5.6, 9.3.5, 10.32.5; Apollon. 1.550, 2.711; Ov. Ep. 20.221; Verg. Ecl. 6.56.)

3. Nymphs of frests, groves, and glens

These were believed sometimes to appear to and frighten solitary travellers. They are designated by the names Ἀλσηΐδες, Ὁληωροί, Αὐλωνιάδες, and Ναπαῖαι. (Apollon. 1.1066, 1227; Orph. Hymn). 50. 7; Theocrit. 13.44; Ov. Met. 15.490; Virg. Georg. 4.535.)

4. Nymphs of trees

These were believed to die together with the trees which had been their abode, and with which they had come into existence. They were called Δρυάδες, Ἁμαδρυάδες or Ἁδρυάδες, from δρῦς, which signifies not only an oak, but any wild-growing lofty tree; for the nymphs of fruit trees were called Μηλίδες, Μηλιάδες, Ἐπιμλίδες, or Ἁμαμηλίδες. They seem to be of Arcadian origin, and never appear together with any of the great gods. (Paus. 8.4.2; Apollon. 2.477, &c.; Ant. Lib. 31, 32; Hom. Hymn. in Ven. 259, &c.)

Overview

The second class of nymphs, who were connected with certain races or localities (Νύμφαι χθόνιαι, Apollon. 2.504), usually have a name derived from the places with which they are associated, as Nysiades, Dodonides, Lemniae. (Ov. Fast. 3.769, Met. 5.412, 9.651; Apollod. 3.4.3; Schol. ad Pind. Ol. 13.74.)

The sacrifices offered to nymphs usually consisted of goats, lambs, milk, and oil, but never of wine. (Theocrit. 5.12, 53, 139, 149; Serv. ad Virg. Georg. 4.380, Eclog. 5.74.) They were worshipped and honoured with sanctuaries in many parts of Greece, especially near springs, groves, and grottoes, as, for example, near a spring at Cyrtone (Paus. 9.24.4), in Attica (1.31.2), at Olympia (5.15.4, 6.22.4), at Megara (1.40.1), between Sicyon and Phlius (2.11.3), and other places. Nymphs are represented in works of art as beautiful maidens, either quite naked or only half-covered. Later poets sometimes describe them as having sea-coloured hair. (Ov. Met. 5.432.)