Nymphs

Summary
Nymphs are considered minor nature deities normally associated with a particular location or landform. They are divine spirits who animate nature and are usually depicted as beautiful, young maidens who love to dance and sing. They live in mountains and groves, by springs and rivers, in trees, valleys and cool grottoes. Although nymphs were not considered immortal, they could give birth to immortal children if the father was a god. They were also frequent targets for satyrs.

Folklore
The ancient Greek belief in nymphs survived in many parts of the country into the early years of the 20th century, when they became known as nereids.

Classification
There were several types of nymphs, classified by their residence

Celestial nymphs

 * 1) Aurae, breezes
 * 2) Asteriae, stars
 * 3) Hesperides, nymphs of the west
 * 4) Aegle, dazzling light
 * 5) Arethusa
 * 6) Erytheia
 * 7) Hesperia
 * 8) Hyades, star cluster or sent rain
 * 9) Pleiades
 * 10) Maia
 * 11) Electra
 * 12) Taygete
 * 13) Alcyone
 * 14) Celaeno
 * 15) Asterope
 * 16) Merope
 * 17) Nephele, clouds

Land Nymphs

 * 1) Alseides, glens and groves
 * 2) Auloniades, pastures
 * 3) Leimakides, meadows
 * 4) Napaeae, mountain valleys and glens
 * 5) Oreads, mountains and grottoes

Wood and Plant Nymphs

 * 1) Anthousai, flowers
 * 2) Dryades, trees
 * 3) Hamadryades
 * 4) Daphnaeae, laurel tree
 * 5) Epimeliades, apple tree
 * 6) Kissiae, Ivy
 * 7) Meliae, nanna-ash tree
 * 8) Hyleoroi, watchers of woods

Water Nymphs

 * 1) Haliae, sea and seashores
 * 2) Nereids (50 daughters of Nereus)
 * 3) Naiads, fresh water
 * 4) Crinaeae, fountains
 * 5) Eleionomae, wetlands
 * 6) Limnades, lakes
 * 7) Pegaeae, springs
 * 8) Potameides, rivers
 * 9) Tagides, Tagus River
 * 10) Oceanids (daughters of Oceanus and Tethys)

Underworld Nymphs

 * 1) Cocytiae, daughters of the river god Cocytus
 * 2) Lampades, torch bearers in the retinue of Hecate
 * 3) Underworld nymphs
 * 4) Orphne
 * 5) Leuce
 * 6) Minthe
 * 7) Melinoe

Other Nymphs

 * 1) Hecaterides (rustic dance), sisters of the Dactyls and mothers of the Oreads and Satyrs
 * 2) Kabeirides, sisters of the Kabeiroi
 * 3) Maenads, frenzied nymphs in the retinue of Dionysus
 * 4) Lenai, wine-press
 * 5) Mimallones, music
 * 6) Naides, Naiads
 * 7) Thyiai, thyrsus bearers
 * 8) Melissae, honey bees
 * 9) The Muses (memory, knowledge, art)
 * 10) Themeides, daughters of Zeus and Themis, prophets and keepers of certain divine artifacts