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| Nymphs | |
In Greek mythology, the Nereids (neer'-ee-eds) (Νηρηΐδες) are sea nymphs, the fifty daughters of Nereus and Doris. They often accompany Poseidon and are always friendly and helpful towards sailors fighting perilous storms. They are particularly associated with the Aegean Sea, where they dwelt with their father in the depths within a silvery cave. The most notable of them are Thetis, wife of Peleus and mother of Achilles; Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon; and Galatea, love of the Cyclops Polyphemus.
In Iliad XVIII, when Thetis cries out in sympathy for the grief of Achilles for the slain Patroclus,
| “ | There gathered round her every goddess, every Nereid that was in the deep salt sea. Glauce was there and Thaleia and Cymodoce; Nesaea, Speio, Thoe and ox-eyed Halie; Cymothoe, Actaee and Limnoreia; Melite, Iaera, Amphithoe and Agaue; Doto, Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene; Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira; Doris, Panope and far-sung Galatea; Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa. Clymene came too, with Ianeira, Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia, Amatheia of the lovely locks, and other Nereids of the salt sea depths. The silvery cave was full of nymphs. | ” |
This list is correlated from four sources. Apollodorus, Hesiod, Homer, and Hyginus. Because of this the total number of names goes beyond fifty. [1]
In modern Greek folklore, the term "nereid" (νεράϊδα, neráïda) has come to be used of all nymphs, or fairies, not merely nymphs of the sea.
| The
Nereid by |
| 1913. |
Her face the sinking stars desire:
Unto her place the slow deeps bring
Shadow of errant winds that wing
O'er sterile gulfs of foam and fire.
Her beauty is the light of pearls.
AII stars and dreams and sunsets die
To make the fluctuant glooms that lie
Around her; and low noonlight swirls
Down ocean's firmamental deep
To weave for who glimmers there
Elusive visions, vague and fair;
And night is as a dreamless sleep:
She has not known the night's unrest
Nor the white curse of clearer day;
The tremors of the tempest play
Like slow delight about her breast.
The berylline pallors of her face
Illume the kingdom of the drowned.
In her the love that none has found,
The unflowering rapture, folded grace,
Await some lover strayed and lone,
Some god misled, who shall not come
Though the decrescent seas lie dumb
And sunken in their wells of stone.
But nevermore of him, perchance,
Her enigmatic musings are,
Whose purpling tresses float afar
In grottoes of the last romance.
Serene, an immanence of fire
She dwells for ever, ocean-thralled,
Soul of the sea's vast emerald.
Her face the sinking stars desire.
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This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. It may be copyrighted outside the U.S. (see Help:Public domain). |  |
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From the stem of Latin Nērēis (“‘sea-nymph’”), from Ancient Greek Νηρηΐς, from Νηρεύς (“‘the sea-god Nereus’”).
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Singular |
Plural |
nereid (plural nereids)
The Nereids are the fifty daughters of the god Nereus and the Okeanid Doris in Greek mythology. They are sea nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea.
Among them are:
  | Nereids in classical literature and art - NEREIDS : Greek goddesses & nymphs of the sea ; mythology ; pictures : NEREIDES |
| | Nereid and Triton Mosaic from Ephesus Terrace Home -2 - Panoramio - Photo of DSC00314ns Ephesus Terrace Home -2 Nereid and Triton Mosaic 9/14/07 |
| | 3D stereoview of Nereid and Triton relief from Apollon Temple in Didim - Panoramio - Photo of DSC08943 Didim Apollon Temple 15-9-2007 |
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