The Three Myths 5

In this entry I chose to write about nymphs, because my three myths (The Camenae, The Winds, and Rhoecus) were all about these creatures. A nymph is any member of a large class of female nature entities, either bound to a particular location or landform or joining the retinue of a god. Nymphs live in mountains and groves, by springs and rivers, and in valleys and cool grottoes. In all the myths, there was a male character who falls in love with a nymph, probably showing that these are sensual and attractive creatures.

"Boreas loved the nymph Orithyia, and tried to play the lover's part, but met with poor success."(P. 141, The Winds).

"It was said that Numa, the second king of Rome, was favoured by this Nymph with secret interviews, in which she taught him those lessons of wisdom and of law which he embodied in the instructions of his rising nation. After the death of Numa the nymph pinned away and was changed into a fountain." (P. 141, The Camanae).

"Rhoecus , happening to seek an oak just ready to fall, ordered his serevents to prop it up. The Nymph, who had just been at the point of perishing with the tree, cam and expressed her gratitude to him for having saved her life and bade him ask what reward he would. Rhoecus boldly asked her love and the nymph yielded to his desire." (P. 138, Rhoecus).

These three quotes, taken from the myths I read, demonstrate the life, actions, and role of the nymphs in greek mythology. As I stated before, they all belong to nature, and in a way, they reflect it's beauty. Maybe this is exactly what they were intended to show, the hidden beauty of nature, beyond what men could see.