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Greek Mythology Notes

Callidice

🌿 nymphΚαλλιδίκη
springs, beauty

One of the nymphs of Eleusis who welcomed Demeter during her search for Persephone.‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌

The Myth of Callidice

When Demeter wandered the earth in grief after Persephone's abduction, she arrived at Eleusis disguised as an old woman.‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‍​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‍​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌ Callidice was among the daughters of King Celeus who met the goddess at the well and invited her to their home. This act of hospitality set in motion the founding of the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most sacred religious rites in ancient Greece.

Parents

Celeus, Metaneira

Symbols

wellhospitality

Fun Fact

The well where Callidice met Demeter, called the Kallichoron, has been archaeologically identified at the Eleusis site near Athens.

Explore Further

Polixo

🌿 nymph

Hospitality, many guests

Oceanid nymph whose name means much hospitality or she who welcomes many

polyxena

Naiads

🌿 nymph

Freshwater nymphs

Naiads presided over every spring, stream, river, lake, and fountain — their water held prophetic and healing powers.

naiad

Egeria

🌿 nymph

counsel, springs

A prophetic water nymph of Italian tradition who served as divine adviser to Rome's second king, Numa Pompilius.

egeria (a female adviser or counsellor)

Deiopea

🌿 nymph

beauty, divine service

The most beautiful of Hera's attendant nymphs, offered by the goddess as a bride to Aeolus in exchange for his services.

Juturna

🌿 nymph

springs, prophecy

An Italian water nymph loved by Jupiter, who granted her dominion over springs and streams as compensation for taking her virginity.

Telphusa

🌿 nymph

springs, prophecy

A spring nymph of Boeotia who tricked Apollo into building his oracle at Delphi instead of at her spring.

Cyane

🌿 nymph

springs, grief

A Sicilian water nymph who tried to stop Hades from abducting Persephone and dissolved into her own spring from grief.

cyan (the blue-green colour, from her waters)

Lilaea

🌿 nymph

rivers, springs

A Naiad nymph of the spring that feeds the river Cephissus in Phocis, and the namesake of an ancient Greek town.

Castalia

🌿 nymph

prophecy, springs

A nymph who was transformed into a spring at Delphi, whose waters inspired prophetic visions.

Castalian (relating to poetic inspiration)

Aegle

🌿 nymph

light, healing

A nymph whose name means "radiance" — identified variously as a Hesperid, a daughter of Asclepius, or the most beautiful of the Naiads.

Polyxo

🌿 nymph

Stars, nursing

One of the Hyades nymphs and nurse of Dionysus, transformed into a star for her devoted care of the god

Praxithea

🌿 nymph

springs, sacrifice

A Naiad nymph who married King Erechtheus of Athens and consented to the sacrifice of her own daughters to save the city.