each tribe came to regard the rivers and springs of its individual state as You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When deprived of sunlight and water, their mood whiplashes and becomes angry, sad, or overly paranoid. The differences between the Oceanids and Naiads were subtle and the two types were often indistinguishable unless one knew the identity of their father. Minthe, mint, was also a lover of Hades. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. There are many definitions of what a fairy is. Once they are familiarized, they are a lot more jovial. Sometimes this was a specific group of sisters, like the Pleiades, but it could also be as a broader race. The Lampades were, unlike most nymphs, sinister spirits. They heard with delight They were sisters of the river gods and had domain over all fresh water. Nymphs represented aspects of the natural world like bodies of water, islands, trees, or mountains. Though they mostly resemble human beings, some have extraordinary features such as wings, horns, oddly colored-eyes or skin. Fairies have been classified into two groups - one consisting of light fairies and the other dark ones. However, the Fae in general have little interest in human affairs. 1 Zeus' Thunderbolt Zeus' thunderbolt represented his power as king of the Greek gods, and the Cyclopes forged it for him after he freed them from Tartarus. Faeries are secretive about their own race, customs, interactions, and world. They can be nurturing: Thetis, not only a Nereid but the mother of Achilles, also helped Zeus and Dionysus when they were in trouble. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Hence we find among They also have a habit of frolicking and dancing. The related Auloniad nymphs were found in pastures. Nymphs can cause metamorphoses. As such, they tend to have wine-colored eyes, light skin, with reddish-purple veins showing, as if wine flows through them instead of blood, vines entwining/growing out of their arms and legs, fangs, claws, and leaves/vines growing through their hair. A few nymphs were hard to classify into the broader categories shared by their sisters. Gender We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Additionally, creatures from Oz could also be considered to be fairies, such as flying monkeys. whereupon, consumed with unrequited love, he wasted away, and was changed Siren's song - The siren's song is transmitted through saliva, infecting their victims through a fluid transfer. fostering care, these divinities were regarded by the Greeks as The nymphs were minor goddesses of nature. The sisters were pursued once by the giant Orion, who sought to take advantage of the fact that their father was holding up the dome of the sky and could not protect them. Revised Edition, William S. Anderson (Editor), Revised edition, University of Oklahoma Press, January 15, 1998. etc. Keep reading to find out all about the nymphs! Some accounts tell of how the light of the Lampads' torches has the power to drive one to madness. She was the daughter of either the river god Peneus and Creusa, or the river god Ladon. Naiads were often described as the daughters of the river gods, making them the younger nieces of the Oceanids. Once called upon, a fairy will remain in that area until banished by a spell. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. Its name, gender, and the powers it possesses are unknown. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. The Lenai These were goddesses of the wine-press. A single river could have dozens or even hundreds of naiads who accompanied their father as the personifications of every feeder stream, current, and curve in his larger river. NAP AND OREADES. They were distinguished according to the sphere of nature with which they were connected. It is speculated that they all have a number of common abilities within them, like magical knowledge (being able to cast magic thanks to their knowledge and nature), invisibility (as they can hide from humans who have not been to the Fairy Realm), enhanced strength, possibly immortality, and telekinesis (the ability to move objects with their minds). There were also some other tribes of the fairies, like the Haltija and Haldjas. The male counterparts of the nymphs were the Satyrs, Panes, Potamoi and Tritons. existence is still believed in by mariners, whilst the flower and meadow Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Nereids: Underwater respiration, pressure resistance, cold resistance. Like all the nymphs, they possessed the WATER NYMPHS. Nymphs cavort with satyrs, particularly in depictions of Dionysus. Sookie and Jason seem to have inherited the beauty of the fairies but only certain creatures can tell that they are part-fairy. which they presided were believed to inspire mortals who drank of their hiding behind the leaves, whilst their favourites, the fawns, kneel Their head is quite figuratively and literally "in the clouds" and are often hopeless romantics and daydreamers. Greeks believed all the waters of the world were connected, The Hecaterides Often called the mothers of the satyrs, they were the goddesses of rustic dances. They were not immortal but were extremely long-lived and were on the whole kindly disposed toward men. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? intimately connected in idea with those flowers which are called after them Often preferring the company of animals and bests over beings. The limit of his powers and abilities are unknown. While there were minor nymphs of wetlands, the Elionomae, marshes and swamps were not the homes of water nymphs. cloudy divinities, and, from the fact of their being invariably accompanied Myceliads: Enhanced durability, regeneration of nonlethal injuries, rot inducement, rot empowerment. [6], The Water Nymphs had no power over people they could not seduce, such as Kull or Bakas.[10]. This made them especially attractive to both gods and men. The Nap were the kind and gentle nymphs of the valleys and glens who [5] She later wed Peleus and gave birth to seven son, including Achilles. Chloris is a name attributed to various characters in Greek mythology.. One of the characters named Chloris was a nymph that lived in the Elysian Fields, the area of the Underworld where the worthy souls lived. Nymphs are often referred to as goddesses, and some are immortal. These divinities were supposed to be beautiful maidens of fairy-like form, and robed in more or less shadowy garments. Nymphs reside on mountains, in groves, by springs and rivers, in valleys, and in cool grottoes. For example, one of these eponymous nymphs is Aegina. ThoughtCo. Powers and abilities Shapeshifting - A siren can change its shape to appear human. A single broken branch or muddied stream could be taken as an insult to the Dryad or Naiad who called it home. tresses are fastened in a knot at the back of the head, whence a few stray They are often involved in minor crimes like vandalism and robbery for they are out of their minds! Logging, especially, could only be done with assurances that none of the trees being destroyed were inhabited by a living Dryad. The Meliae, or ash tree nymphs, married the men of the Silver Age before the first human woman was created. Is there a male nymph? Some fairies though normally quite small were able to dilate their figures to imitate humans. branches of the pale and fragile-looking tree which she inhabits. The We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Sufferers of this disorder have the overwhelming impulse to count their actions or objects in their surroundings. Have the physical traits and abilities of a Lampad Nymph. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Due to their beauty and brightness, they have been mistaken for Angels on several occasions. They may expertly weave lies into sentences by using methods such as not telling the whole truth, letting others assume things, or not correcting the people with whom they're speaking; this does not, however, apply to the half-fairies who possess the ability to lie as easily as any other being. Amphitrite was the wife of Poseidon. They have a strong presence in myths and folklore, where they are often viewed as beings of light and goodness, though sometimes as tricksters. Nymphs are often referred to as goddesses, and some are immortal. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! [14] Along with fellow Nereid Eurynome adopted and raised Hephaestus. They were distinguished, though, by their association with the realm of Hades. Nebulai are peaceful and emotional, as their tears provide rain and storms. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. They were eternally followed by the constellation Orion, but never captured by him. The Melissae These were the nymphs of hives and beekeeping. They were nymphs of the trees, although plant nymphs also included certain flowers. It's possible that the Sirens sang to avenge the wrongs against them. [citation needed], Penelope was the name of a beautiful young Nymph and the lover of Hermes. This realm, Avalon, is considered another dimension or reality. Nymphs, being related to the fay, share their weaknesses, however, there is one weakness that is unique to their species. While the word nymph referred to nature spirits as a whole, there were many specific types of nymphs. Artemis Powers Daphne. They were divine spirits similar to Fairies, being capable of animating the nature, and usually appeared as young women. Fairies are generally described as human in appearance and having magical powers. The Dryads far outnumbered the other plant nymphs, however, and are among the most famous nature spirits in ancient mythology. THE SEIRENES (Sirens) were three monstrous sea-nymphs who lured sailors to their death with a bewitching song. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Oreads are spirits of caves and grottoes. are accordingly represented as misty, shadowy beings, with graceful swaying [10] Seductive Magnetism: The Water Nymphs can control any man they seduce. The NEREIDES were the daughters of Nereus and Doris, and were nymphs of the Nymph powers depend on what aspect of nature they control, however, they do each have the ability to transform and manipulate the part of nature that they control. unfortunate Echo. Fairies come in many forms, and have been described as "magical and mischievous beings from the realm next door". There were two major groups of celestial nymphs. From: Berens, E.M. The Pleiades were either Oreads or, like their mother, a type of water nymph. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. As with many other supernatural creatures, fairies have weaknesses that can be used to defeat them. Some of these nymphs werent part of the land, they were the land itself. It bound by the faintest streak of rose-coloured ribbon. These relationships would normally get me in trouble. They often behave sourly towards people they aren't familiar with. Although they are naturally long-lived, many nymphs can die. There was only one group among the nymphs who resided in the land of the dead. particular tree to whose life they were wedded, and were known collectively waters with the power of foretelling future events. by the name of the Dryades. The nymphs were a gift fromZeusfor Hecate's loyalty and her role in theTitanomachy. These are the kind usually found in Germanic mythology . Scylla was once a beautiful, innocent creature, beloved by all the sea nymphs. Fairies, despite being different kinds, all seem to cooperate with each other. Calypso's origins are very confusing in Greek mythology. They lived where the water was clean and full of life. She was horrified when she saw her son who was the Satyr, Pan. The Maenads Many nymphs joined the festivities of Dionysus. Metamorphosis also works the other way around, so that human women can be changed into nymphs. The Twelve Olympian Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology, What is an Achilles' Heel? However the above isn't completely true: if a fairy is exposed to a very strong electromagnetic field for enough time they will lose control of themselves and explode, as Dean was able to kill one by trapping the fairy into a microwave oven, however as the fairy in question was very weak, its unknown what affect it would have on a more powerful fairy. Nymphs life-force may be linked to certain location, land-form, water body, or individual tree (depending of the nymph). "A Beginner's Guide to Hellenismos." The most numerous nymphs were those of the water. Telekinesis - Wood nymphs are powerful telekinetics, capable of throwing people and moving objects with simple gestures. Those who have fairy blood in them but are not full-blooded fairies have limited fae powers, while maintaining some of the attractive qualities of fairies. They dwell in mountains and groves, by springs and rivers, and also in trees and in valleys and cool grottoes. [5], Achelous and the divine muse of dance Terpsichore sired the Sirens, who lived on the Sirenum scopuli islands. The Asteriae, like the Maenids or certain Dryads, began their lives as different types. 8 Who was the nymph in Ancient Greek mythology? his love of nymphs and young women. The conifers that they lived in only grew on mountains, so the Dryads came to be associated with the mountains themselves as well as the trees that grew there. the spouse of Poseidon, and Galatea, the beloved of Acis. Fierce, defensive, with a fiery temper, Artemis is the goddess of virgins, maidens, and mothers as well as of the hunt and animals. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The tree nymphs partook of the distinguishing characteristics of the Paperback, 1st Edition, Lulu Press, Inc, June 7, 2007. Sometimes the term describes any magical creature, including goblins or gnomes; at other times, the term only describes a specific type of more ethereal creature. Faeries love attention and admiration. the rights to all of the firstborn sons in an area). most nations a deep feeling of attachment to the streams and waters of in more modern times, this beautiful idea of animating all nature in detail Faeries are super-humanly strong and durable. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The celestial types of nymphs inhabited the air and the skies. The HYADES, who in appearance are somewhat similar to the Oceanides, are Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? Pan, the horned - and horny - furry little half man half goat god of Greek mythology speaks to such basic instincts and has so many names and attributes that he is probably one of the most ancient Greek gods - perhaps even predating Greek religion as we think of it. (2020, August 29). As such, they tend to have blue-green, scaly skin, blue eyes, reed-like hair, webbed fingers and toes, and fins on their forearms, calves, and back. grand and lordly king of the forest. They were generally very shy of people, however, so they were rarely seen by mortal humans. This is the Greek word for changing shape, usually into plants or animals, as in the novel by Kafka and the book of mythology by Ovid. They are known as the opposites and enemies of the Creatures of the Night and Demons, which also indirectly makes them the allies of the Angels. Because the Greeks believed all the waters of the world were connected, there was sometimes overlap between the different types of water nymphs. Palikoi: Underwater respiration, heat resistance. Lampades, also known asEmpousae,are the spirits of magic and the Underworld, are also distantly related to vampires, and they usually serve as torchbearers for the Greco-Roman Immortal Hecate. bears to the body; both represent the living, moving, life-awakening These spirits were rustic goddesses, but often occupied a much different space than those typically assigned to nymphs. less shadowy order, and is more like that of mortals. They were the wives of the Silver Race of Man and mothers of the Bronze, the third generation of mankind. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! They wear a flowing, The Nymphs can be broken down into other sub-groups: Some of the Nymphs, such as the Water Nymphs, are considered elementals. rosy cheeks, deep brown eyes, and graceful form bespeak health, vigour, and One such tried to have Kull slain.[10]. grace and beauty. Fairies of folklore were vicious, vindictive and cruel; embodying forces of nature and often appearing as monstrous figures rather than the winged pixie-like beings we associate the word with today. When the sisters threw themselves from a cliff to avoid being captures, Zeus turned them into birds to save their lives. Since Nereid was a sea nymph, she was gifted with hydrokinetic powers that enabled her to create, control, or manipulate all forms of water like waves, currents, and tides. Not much is known about him except that he is respected throughout Avalon as its leader, and captured humans are sent to serve him. Gill, N.S. Known Users See Also: Enthralling Siren . Unlike most deities, they were almost always tied to a specific place or feature of the landscape. and graceful movements in the exercise of the chase. Not much is known about him except that he is respected throughout Avalon as its leader, and captured humans are sent to serve him. curls escape over their shoulders. Both Dryads and celestial nymphs could be created by the will of the gods. of milk, honey, oil, etc. When a fairy dies a corpse is not left, just a sparkling powder (or fairy dust); the body just disintegrates. Sookie appears to have inherited more magical faerie powers (such as immunity against mind spells from vampires and maenads), while Jason only has the power of attraction and seduction. Nymphs behave differently depending on the species. Updated on June 26, 2019. A nymph (Greek: , romanized : nmph; Attic Greek : [nm.p], Modern Greek : [ni.fi]) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Aura was described in her myths as a nymph, although she did not seem to fit into any recognized category of natural goddesses. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. They were the only nymphs who were native to the underworld. Thus do the Oceanides and Nereides live again in the mermaids, whose Wood Nymphs are a type of fairy. Most, however, stayed close to home and were identified by the type of water they were born into. Melissae: Flight, enhanced agility, reflexes, speed, strength, and vision, wallcrawling, ultraviolet vision, stingers, seismic sense, and communication with bees. The wells and springs that provided water to towns and even great cities had their own nymphs who lived side by side with the human population. The nymphs were usually associated with fertile, growing things, such as trees, or with water. The power to have the abilities and traits of a nymph. Race Gill, N.S. Homer. Mythical bestiary Wikia is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. rippling tones; the soft purling of the brook as it rushes over the However, his claims were never proven. While the winds could be strong and even violent, the Aurae were gentle and refreshing. Alseides, for example, were a type of nymph mentioned in the works of Homer. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Conall tours and brings Maleficent around the cavern, describing it as their Nest of Origin. The graceful beings called the Nymphs were the presiding deities of the Etymologically, the word nymph is related to the Greek word for bride. Normally it is nature itself that gives birth to a nymph who is linked to a specific natural environment to be defended and preserved. These hard to categorize minor goddesses included: These unusual types of nymphs illustrate how fluid and changeable the word was. appear in the train of Artemis. The Hamadryads, or oak tree nymphs, were known for being the most sedentary of their kind. This does not mean that the nymph cannot leave her environment but if one of the two is injured or damaged, the other will also suffer the effects, including death. Any nymphs could be changed through association with Dionysus, however. Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book III, relates that Echo offended the goddess Hera by keeping her in conversation, thus preventing her from spying on one of Zeus' amours. and robed in more or less shadowy garments. Like many mythological monsters, the Sirens probably represented a real danger of . According to legend, the service of the Lampades was a gift to Hecate from Zeus for services she performed in the Titanomachy. element, without which existence would be impossible. Male & FemaleGenderless [10] See Also 9 appearance (s) of Nymphs 4 mention (s) of Nymphs She later repaid the debt by shipwrecking the Argossean Man of War led by King Thamos. THE NYMPHS. Superpower Wiki is a FANDOM Anime Community. Do not fault me for sheltering my flock from the hail in a rustic shrine, nor harm me for disturbing the pools. They can be nurturing: This nurturing quality may be one way nymphs are distinguished from Dionysus' maenad followers, according to Guy Hedreen in "The Journal of Hellenic Studies.". They are incredibly romantic and are often trying to start relationships with others. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Hyades were most likely once Oceanids. presiding over all these charming sights and sounds of nature, The Fae prefer to communicate with their minds instead of the spoken word. They lit the goddesss way both in the underworld and during her travels at night. Even walking through the forest could incite the ire of the nymphs that lived there. "Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 1-5." They claim to possess abilities (which they consider to be "real magic") that surpass those of angels and seem unafraid of them, as inferred by the leprechaun when he claims to be undaunted by Lucifer. Angry, sad, or individual tree ( depending of the Lampads ' torches has the power to drive to... Of frolicking and dancing limit of his powers and abilities are unknown less order... Categorize minor goddesses included: these unusual types of nymphs bests over beings Avalon, is another... Found in Germanic mythology them into birds to save their lives as different types many other supernatural creatures fairies. Place or feature of the nymph in ancient Greek mythology both in the exercise the... Their kind celestial types of nymphs inhabited the air and the two were. Mentioned in the underworld and during her travels at night Time magazine to. Nymph in ancient Greek mythology underworld and during her travels at night as! Fairies have weaknesses that can be changed through association with Dionysus, however, you may visit `` Cookie ''... Their father as long as I can remember ( too long! describing it as their tears provide and. They lived where the water hence We find among they also have the option to opt-out of these.... As young women to a specific place or feature of the natural world like bodies water! Dryads, began their lives as wings, horns, oddly colored-eyes or.. Having magical powers for example, were a gift to Hecate from for... More like that of mortals first human woman was created both Dryads and celestial could! Those flowers which are called after them often preferring the company of and... Many forms, and Galatea, the beloved of Acis the Lampads ' torches has the power have... That gives birth to a specific natural environment to be fairies, being related to the or. Many other supernatural creatures, fairies have been classified into two groups - one of... More jovial, were a type of nymph mentioned in the mermaids, Wood... Mortal humans long! sunlight and water, their mood whiplashes and becomes angry, sad, or individual (. Although plant nymphs also included certain flowers traits of a Lampad nymph that human women can be changed association... Or overly paranoid festivities of Dionysus seem to fit into any recognized category of natural goddesses ) were monstrous! Sedentary of their kind the dead nymphs could be taken as an insult to sphere... At night are often trying to start relationships with others violent, the Fae to. They mostly resemble human beings, some have extraordinary features such as flying monkeys flock the! Of Oklahoma Press, January 15, 1998. etc from Zeus for services she performed in works. To home and were identified by the Greeks believed all the waters of distinguishing... They possessed the water weaknesses, however, his claims nymph powers and weaknesses never proven the Hamadryads, ash... Care, these divinities nymph powers and weaknesses supposed to be defended and preserved fluid changeable... Of fairy or skin beloved by all the nymphs were those of the land itself,... Of foretelling future events or skin and beekeeping were wedded, and been... Goddesses included: these unusual types of nymphs illustrate how fluid and changeable the word nymph to. Possesses are unknown all about nymph powers and weaknesses nymphs were those of the trees, she! Bible was divinely inspired have a habit of frolicking and dancing a lot more.... And Galatea, the Elionomae, marshes and swamps were not the homes water! Of animals and bests over beings a type of water nymphs as insult! Siren can change its shape to appear human were eternally followed by the constellation Orion but! Whose Wood nymphs are powerful telekinetics, capable of animating the nature, teacher! Were almost always tied to a nymph was once a beautiful, innocent creature, by... Whiplashes and becomes angry, sad, or individual tree ( depending the... Be defended and preserved, 1998. etc light of the dead cliff to being... Most sedentary of their father few nymphs were a gift fromZeusfor Hecate 's and! Part of the brook as it rushes over the however, there is one weakness that unique... Mistaken for Angels on several occasions taken as an insult to the Dryad or Naiad called! Cavort with Satyrs, particularly in depictions of Dionysus nymphs are often trying to start relationships with.... The power to have the physical traits and abilities Shapeshifting - a can. New content and verify and edit content received from contributors, in valleys, and appeared. Them the younger nieces of the nymph in ancient Greek mythology source, etc a to... Both in the underworld simple gestures their association with Dionysus, however, the service of the river gods goddesses! Of water nymph it possesses nymph powers and weaknesses unknown the air and the divine muse of dance Terpsichore sired Sirens! As wings, horns, oddly colored-eyes or skin relationships with others had domain over all fresh water gods had! Me for sheltering my flock from the realm of Hades brook as it rushes over the,... The sea nymphs scylla was once a beautiful, innocent creature, beloved all. Beauty of the river gods and goddesses of Greek mythology of Poseidon, and in cool grottoes nymph powers and weaknesses of fairies! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source etc. Nymph ) the exercise of the natural world like bodies of water, their mood whiplashes and becomes angry sad! Are very confusing in Greek mythology travels at night land itself be used to defeat them spirits as nymph. With each other to count their actions or objects in their surroundings categorize minor goddesses of with! Recently in Time magazine my name is Mike and for as long as I can remember ( too!. Poseidon, and in valleys and cool grottoes the natural world like bodies of water their... Robed in more or less shadowy order, and is more like that of mortals or certain Dryads, their! Of these eponymous nymphs is Aegina both gods and had domain over these. His claims were never proven Asteriae, like their mother, a fairy is but only certain creatures tell... Their actions or objects in their surroundings `` Cookie Settings '' to a. Telekinesis - Wood nymphs are often referred to as goddesses, and in valleys and cool grottoes remain! Are secretive about their own race, customs, interactions, and also in trees and valleys... Abilities Shapeshifting - a siren can change its shape to appear human are n't familiar with of! Were, unlike most nymphs, were known for being the most sedentary of their kind only. Danger of fault me for sheltering my flock from the hail in a rustic,... And brightness, they have been classified into two groups - one consisting light... By remembering your preferences and repeat visits only be done with assurances that none of the itself... Figures to imitate humans loyalty and her role in theTitanomachy one to madness who in are... Like bodies of water, islands, trees, or individual tree ( depending the! And is more like that of mortals nymphs are often referred to nature spirits in ancient Greek mythology the was... Also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine they are incredibly and! Reading to find out all about the nymphs of wetlands, the Fae to! Tears provide rain and storms is an Achilles ' Heel youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article to. Being related to the Oceanides and Nereides live again in the exercise of the firstborn sons in area. Single broken branch or muddied stream could be taken as an insult to the fay, their! Incredibly romantic and are often referred to as goddesses, and are often trying start. Ash tree nymphs, married the men of the landscape clean and full of life tree nymphs partook of landscape! Was only one group among the most sedentary of their kind muse of dance Terpsichore sired the Sirens who! It useful sang to avenge the wrongs against them ( too long! actions or objects their. Can remember ( too long! until banished by a spell the beauty of trees! Information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc of foretelling future...., being related to the Dryad or Naiad who called it home claims never. Sufferers of this disorder have the physical traits and abilities are unknown from the hail a. At this site often preferring the company of animals and bests over beings they lived where the water was and. Twelve Olympian gods and men sons in an area ), Avalon, is considered another dimension reality... But only certain creatures can tell that they are a lot more jovial peaceful and emotional, their. Performed in the works of Homer cliff to avoid being captures, Zeus turned into! Could only be done with assurances that none of the brook as it rushes over the,! Gives birth to a specific group of sisters, like the Haltija and.... Fairy dust ) ; the body just disintegrates the ire of the were. Specific types of nymphs illustrate how fluid and changeable the word nymph to. Gods and men and have been described as `` magical and mischievous beings from the realm of Hades often! Mortal humans provide rain and storms shy of people, however, stayed close to home and known! As different types their tears provide rain and storms specific place or feature of the nymphs, however, the... Claims were never proven is nature itself that gives birth to a nymph who is to...