Naiads
Naiads presided over every spring, stream, river, lake, and fountain — their water held prophetic and healing powers.
The Myth of Naiads
Naiads, freshwater nymphs of springs, rivers, and fountains, were daughters of various river gods and considered sacred throughout Greece. They inhabited the springs at Delphi where Apollo's oracle drank, and the fountains of Corinth and Athens. Zeus, Dionysus, and Hermes all had naiad nurses or lovers. The naiads of Mount Ida on Crete helped raise the infant Zeus after Rhea hid him from Kronos. Hylas, companion of Heracles on the Argo, was pulled into a spring by naiads enamoured of his beauty and never seen again. Their waters were believed to grant prophecy, healing, or madness to those who drank.
Parents
Various river gods
Children
Varied
Symbols
Fun Fact
The English word "nymph" for an insect's immature stage comes from these spirits.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Creusa
🌿 nymphsprings, motherhood
A Naiad nymph of Thessaly who bore Hypseus and Stilbe to the river god Peneus.
Lilaea
🌿 nymphrivers, springs
A Naiad nymph of the spring that feeds the river Cephissus in Phocis, and the namesake of an ancient Greek town.
Egeria
🌿 nymphcounsel, springs
A prophetic water nymph of Italian tradition who served as divine adviser to Rome's second king, Numa Pompilius.
Calirrhoe
🌿 nymphBeautiful flowing water
Oceanid nymph of beautifully flowing springs who married the river god Chrysaor
Castalia
🌿 nymphprophecy, springs
A nymph who was transformed into a spring at Delphi, whose waters inspired prophetic visions.
Arethusa
🌿 nymphNymph who became a freshwater spring
Arethusa was a nymph of Artemis who was pursued by the river god Alpheus and transformed into a freshwater spring on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse.
Juturna
🌿 nymphsprings, prophecy
An Italian water nymph loved by Jupiter, who granted her dominion over springs and streams as compensation for taking her virginity.
Limnades
🌿 nymphlakes, marshes
Lake nymphs who inhabited freshwater lakes, marshes, and pools, considered dangerous to mortals who swam in their waters.
Cyane
🌿 nymphsprings, grief
A Sicilian water nymph who tried to stop Hades from abducting Persephone and dissolved into her own spring from grief.
Okyrhoe
🌿 nymphSwift flowing water
Oceanid nymph whose name means swift flow and who personified fast-running streams
Metope
🌿 nymphrivers, motherhood
A river nymph, daughter of the river Ladon, who married the river god Asopus and bore him twenty daughters — many of whom were abducted by gods.
Idaea
🌿 nymphmountains, springs
A nymph of Mount Ida in the Troad who became the second wife of the river god Scamander — or in other versions, of King Phineus.