Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/74

 60 GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY appeared in every place where water exhibited a simi- lar effect. This happened most naturally at the springs which had served as places for worship since most ancient times. The Naiades ('Naiads'), who represented such springs, were more exactly distinguished by mussel shells or other receptacles for water. But Nymphs were almost as frequent wherever an abundance of water produced luxuriant plant growth; and so the Oreades had their abode in the forests and pastures of the mountains. Moreover, the vital strength of every individual tree was explained as the activity of a soul-like nymph living in and together with it, who was designated as a Dryad (' tree nymph ') or Hamadryad (< the one united with the tree 7 ). Accordingly a nymph was supposed to live only so long as she was herself effective in the object whose vital power she represented. If the spring dried up, or the tree withered, the nymph also died. This kind of nymph marks an intermediate step between the divini- ties of water, and the special divinities of growth. Oceanua : Hesiod, Theog. 133 ; Homer, II. xiv. 246 : 6s irep ytvevis TravrecrffL T^TU/CTCU, et passim ; Ovid, Fast. v. 81 ; Hyginus, Fab. clxxxii. Tethys : Homer, II. xiv. 201 : re Ovid, Met. ix. 499 ; Spenser, F. Q. i. iii. 31. Nereus: Ovid, Amor. ii. 11, 39; Vergil, Aen. ii. 419; Horace, Od. i. 15, 5 ; Milton, Comus 871 :- By hoary Nereus' wrinkled look. Spenser, F. Q. i. iii. 31. Proteus : Homer, Od. iv. 365, 385 sq. ; Ovid, Met. viii. 730 sq. ; Vergil, Geor. iv. 429 sq. ; Hyginus, Fab. cxviii. ; Pope, Dunciad ii. 129 :