Naiads

by Bob Fisher

 
The Naiads were nymphs of bodies of fresh water and were one of the three main classes of water nymphs – the others being the Nereids (nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea) and the Oceanids (nymphs of the oceans). The Naiads presided over rivers, streams, brooks, springs, fountains, lakes, ponds, wells, and marshes. They were divided into various subclasses: Crinaeae (fountains), Pegaeae (springs), Eleionomae (marshes), Potameides (rivers), and Limnades or Limnatides (lakes). Roman sources even assigned custody of the rivers of Hades to Naiads classified as Nymphae Infernae Paludis or the Avernales.

Idaea

by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee Ph.D.

 
The name Ida or Idaea (Idaia) appeared in the Greek myths as the name of two nymphs who were living in various places. The first nymph lived on Ida, which is the highest point of Crete (in modern times called Mount Psiloritis 2456m) and the second one was living on Mount Ida (now named Kaz Gagi 1774m) in ancient Phrygia near Troy, in the north-western region of Turkey. Ida, -idi means in the Greek language the wooded mountain, so this word became the name of the mountains as well as the name of these female divinities; the nymphs who were — according to the myths — living on Mount Ida.