NYMPHS, female spirits of nature representing the divine powers of mountains, waters, woods, and trees, and also of places, regions, cities and States. As the word νύμφη, young unmarried woman, implies, nymphs were thought of as young and fair. Calypso is described as a nymph (Odyssey, 1. 14). They like dancing and music and can inspire mortals with poetry and prophetic power. In contrast to gods, nymphs are mortal (Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8. 771), though Hesiod endows them with extreme longevity. They are daughters of Zeus.
From N.G.L. Hammond and H.H. Scullard ed., The Oxford Classical Dictionary 2nd edition 1970
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Descendant of:
MYTHOLOGY AND THE CLASSICAL WORLDTexts with this theme:
- Die Liebesgötter, D 446 (Johann Peter Uz)
- Uraniens Flucht, D 554 (Johann Baptist Mayrhofer)
- Der zürnenden Diana, D 707 (Johann Baptist Mayrhofer)
- Wohin? D 795/2 (Wilhelm Müller)