The Nymphs, personifications of all of nature's living things, were a very important aspect of the everyday lives of both gods and humans. The nymphs were on a level just beneath gods, and they inhabited every mountain, valley, plain, forest, every thicket, bush, and tree, and every fountain, stream, and lake. They greatly resembled what we consider today to be mermaids and fairies.

The nymphs were friend to both man and god. They could be seen if they wanted to be, or remain invisible. They feasted on ambrosia, as the gods did, but they were not immortal. While being occasionally summoned to Olympus to council the gods, they usually remained in their own spheres of influence. They occupied themselves by weaving and spinning, singing, bathing, dancing, or accompanying various gods and heroes on their adventures. The only group that the nymphs did not care for was the Satyrs.

While many ancient peoples discounted the existance of gods, most of the ancient Greeks were steadfastly convinced that nymphs existed, and they erected shrines to them, usually where their influence was most strongly felt. Any place that featured dripping or flowing water was sacred to the nymphs. Particularly nice shrines and sanctuaries, called nymphæa, were used for weddings. The sacrifices to the nymphs at the nymphæa were lambs or goats, milk, or oil. Wine was forbidden as a sacrifice.

The actual origin of the Nymphs is hard to classify; there are many stories concering their parentage. usually, it is assumed that they were the offspring of Zeus and the Nereid Thetis. There are twelve different types of Nymphs, usually classified by their dwelling places.

1. Dryads, or Hamadryads
   also called Alseïds, were the Nymphs of the woods and trees, and were often seen frolocking with Apollo, Hermes, and Pan, and were usually described as being dressed as huntresses.
2. Oreads, or the mountain nymphs
   sometimes named after the particular areas where they lived, such as Peliads, (from Pelion), Idæan (from Ida), Kithæronian (from Kithæron), etc.
3. Limoniads, or Leimoniads
   nymphs of flowers and meadows.
4. Napææ, or Auloniads
   They were nymphs of the mountain vales in which herds fed. They were usually found in the company of Pan, rushing swiftly and happily over the hills and valleys. One of the favorite nymphs was Eurydice, who was felled by a snakebite. Orpheus sang a song of her in what remains a touching love myth throughout history.
5. Okeanids
   The daughters of Okeanos,
6. Nereïds
   The daughters of Nereus, were sometimes called Dorids, after their mother.
7. Naiads
   Nymphs of the liquid element. They were usually found in the company of Zeus, Poseidon, and Dionysus, as well as Demeter, Persephone, and APhrodite, and were seen as deities of marriage and sacred rites.
8. Potamids
   Nymphs of the rivers and streams.
9. Limnads
   Nymphs of lakes, marshes, and swamps. They were dangerous, because they tried to allure and trap travellers by their songs or mimicing screams for help.
10. Pleiads
    the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione, and sisters of the Hyads.
11. Atlantids
    Offspring of Atlas, and belonging to the same order as the Pleiads.
12. Hyads The Hyads were daughters of Atlas and Æthra. They were either sisters or daughters of Hyas. They were so distraught over the death of Hyas by wild animals, they were changed into stars, which are the seven stars of the constellation Taurus. They were often called Dodonids, and were the nurses of Zeus.

ACTIVITIES:
Nymphs activity

KEY TEST WORDS:
Dryads, Okeanids, Nereïds, Naiads

The Group Deities

To the Underworld

Footnotes:
Some of the nymphs may have been ancient goddesses who were reduced in rank.

SOURCES:
Jane Smith
Edith Hamilton's Mythology
Bulfinch's Mythology
"Manual of Mythology" by Alexander S. Murray.
Croiwell's Handbook of Classical Mythology