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(#82) DOW & FROSINI:
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Naiads are nymphs of rivers, streams and springs; Oreads of the hills; and Dryads of forests and trees. These children of Nature appear as benevolent spirits, and lead a life of liberty. Sometimes weaving, sometimes dancing and singing, sometimes hunting with Artemis or reveling with Dionysus. Apollo, Hermes and Pan are devoted to them and satyrs lay in wait. Goats, lambs, milk and oil were offered to them. In art, they are represented as charming maidens, lightly clothed or naked, with flowers and garlands. They are well disposed toward mortals and ready to help them; they even wed with them. The Naiads, as the goddesses of the nourishing and fructifying water, were especially rich in favors, giving increase and fruitfulness to plants, herds and mortals. On the same principle, they are represented as nurturing the children of the gods. Further, owing to the healing and inspiring power of many springs, they belong to the divinities of healing and prophesying, and can even drive men into a transport of prophetic and poetic inspiration. The Muses themselves are in their origin water nymphs.* A green thought in a green shade.** * Abstracted from Oskar Seyffert, Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1891), Revised and edited by Henry Nettleship and J. E. Sandys, Meridian Books, 1961 ** Annihilating all that's made To a green thought in a green shade. - Andrew Marvell (1621 - 1678) The Garden, (1650 - 1652) |