Who were the nymphs? They were female spirits of the natural world. They were believed to be minor goddesses of the forests, rivers, springs, meadows, mountains and seas. They were known to be the crafters of nature’s wild beauty, from the growing of trees, flowers and shrubs, to the nurture of wild animals and birds, and formed the grottos, springs, brooks and wetlands.

The nymphs were known to be companions of the gods Dionysos. He had his wild eyed Mainades (Maenads) and the Bacchae. Artemis was accompanied by a band of huntress nymphs. Hekate was accompanied by the dark Lampades of the Underworld. Poseidon by the Nereides , and the goddesses of Mount Olympus by a bevery of nymph handmaidens.

Others were the nurses of the gods including the Idaian nymphs who nursed the infant Zeus, and the Nysian nymphs who cared for Dionysos.

The nymphs were usually depicted as beautiful young women with attributes matching their abode.

By their name, we can tell that they are a numerous class of inferior female divinities. They have the Olympian title and are called to meetings of the gods in Olympus. They are described as being the daughters of Zeus.

The nymphs were believed to dwell on earth in groves, on the summits of mountains, in rivers, streams, glens and grottoes.

They would always accompany the goddess Artemis, while dancing with her. They would weave within their grottoes purple garments, and would kindly watch over the fate of mortals.

Men would offer up sacrifices either to them alone, or in conjuction with other gods, such as Hermes. From the places which they inhabit, they were known as the Agronomes.

All nymphs, whose number is almost infinite, may be divided into two great classes. The first embraces those who must be regarded as a kind of inferior divinities, recognized in the worship of nature.

My early Greek ancestors saw in all nymphs, the phenomena of ordinary nature. That was some manifestation of the deity: springs, rivers, grottoes, trees, and mountains, all seemed to be fraught of life.

The Nymphs were only the visible embodiments of many divine agents.