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callhergod · 11 months

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Nature and Women are one in the same. Gazed upon by men, ruined with their grasp.

#romantic academia #light academia #quotes #poem #poetry #dark academia #cottage academia #mine #journal #free write #nature #nymphcore #greek nymphs #greek mythology #poet #light acamedia #light academism

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iliosflower · 2 years

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What is a nymph?*

If the female under discussion is not a well recognized goddess, one must decide whether to refer to her as a mortal woman (that is, a heroine), as a nymph, or as a member of some other group. It is, of course, made more tricky by the ambiguity of the term numphê, which can refer not only to the minor female divinities of the wild places but also to any nubile woman or, more commonly, to a bride. Occasionally, a numphê may be a mature, even matronly woman. When applied to a mortal woman, the term points to her status as a sexual being.

Below are enumerated the main criteria of the distinction between heroine and nymph.

Terminology used by ancient sources. Surprisingly often, the Greek sources take the trouble to identify nymphs. More often, the terms naiad and nymph are juxtaposed in order to make the sense unmistakable.

Parentage. Nymphs are described with great frequency as the daughter of Zeus, of Ge, or of various river gods. Acheloös often figures as the father. Heroines, on the other hand, are normally the daughters of heroes. There are exceptions.

Mortality and death narrative. While the ultimate mortality of nymphs was debated among ancient authors, it was clear to the ancient that they enjoyed a superhuman lifespan far outstripping that of mortal men and women. Heroines were all too easily killed. The emphasis on their death is complemented by the focus of heroic cults at what were believed to be the tombs of the heroes and heroines.

Gender restrictions and vulnerability to mortal men. The nymph is a highly ambiguous figure. Though sexually desirable, she is usually free of familial restrictions applied to mortal women and can rarely be fully domesticated. They may be sexually promiscuous, and they often act as the aggressors in ephemeral affairs with mortals. Sometimes these could be deadly to the male. Unlike nymphs, mythological heroines who indulged in promiscuity or violence are usually punished in one fashion or another. Moreover, their narrative often emphasizes their passive availability to men’s use and their vulnerability to male violence.

Role in heroin genealogies and narrative flexibility. The nymph often played a role in local genealogies as the earliest, autochthonous ancestor and provided a link to and an implicit claim upon the land and its resources. This is in contrast to heroines, who may be virgins, wives, or crones, admirable or villainous, and who play detailed roles in the local myths.

Associations with a water source. Nymphs regularly personify and inhabit springs, rivers, and lakes. One of their main mythic and cultic functions is to provide fresh water.

Special functions in relation to gods. While the cult of heroines usually exist within a familial context, so that they are worshipped in conjunction with a husband or son, nymphs are associated with Hermes, Apollo, Pan, the river god Acheloös, and other deities. Their cult organization isn’t analogous to the family but to the relationship between a god and their thiasos or the chorus leader and chorus.

Cultic functions. Comparison here reveals some overlap. The main area of overlap encompasses human fertility, childbirth, and childcare. This kourotrophic function can be further divided into concern for young children and for those approaching adulthood, a group of special interest to the community as future warriors and fertile wives. The participation of nymphs at each stage of this process is well-documented. Heroines may play a similar role, especially when concerns are given a civic focus. There are some divergences. Nymphs, because of their associations with springs, are often healing deities. Though there are several examples of heroes who heal, there is little evidence for heroine healers; this gap can correspond to the societal restraints on female physicians. Another area that nymphs normally don’t share with heroines is that of inspiration, and to a lesser extent, divination.

Physical setting and significance of cult spaces. Heroines’ tombs and shrines, like those of heroes, tend to be strategically located in central spots within the city walls. Sometimes, they are literally focal points of the city. The cult places of nymphs, on the other hand, are as a rule associated with natural features: rivers, caves, and springs. Many, if not most, are rural. Exceptions abound, however. Both nymphs and heroines contribute to the community’s sense of itself in history. Heroines, on the other hand, are more likely to have civic functions of little concern to the nymph (political concern, for example).

Objects commemorating cult. Two votive reliefs with well-developed iconography can be compared: one for heroines and one for nymphs. Sculptural conventions oppose the domestic setting of a banquet for heroic figures with natural settings in caves for nymphs, and familial relationships with “choric” ones.

Other narrative or cultic motifs. Satyrs or silens, herding and pastoralism, caves, trees, bees, and honey are all common motifs in the myths and cult of nymphs.

None of these criteria should be employed alone or applied too rigidly, but taken as a whole they can provide a workable method for us to distinguish nymphs from heroines as well as from various minor goddesses, and they indicate that the Greeks generally did the same. Of course, there are hybrid cases of female figures who exhibit some characteristics of both nymph and heroine; there is no use attempting to force such individuals into one category or the other.

*Source: Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult, Lore, by Jennifer Larson, ch. 1.1

#nymphai #the nymphs #nymph worship #fairies #fae #helpol #hellenic polytheism #hellenic reconstrunctionism #jennifer larson #greek nymphs #almost verbatim quoted #just a little shorter #nymphai just deserve more attention. i love them

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hecatesdelights · 4 months

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Oreads, Mountain Nymphs in Greek Mythology

#oread #oreads #mountain nymph #Greek Nymphs #greek myth art #greek mythology #hellenic mythology #nature spirits #nature guardians #lesser deities

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the-evil-clergyman · 2 months

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The Sea Nymphs by Nicolas Auguste Laurens (1898)

#nicolas auguste laurens #art #paintings #fine art #19th century #19th century art #academicism #academism #academic art #painting #french art #french artist #mythology #greek mythology #nereid #sea nymph #classic art

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bones4thecats · 3 months

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Hello! Could I request Hades and Poseidon (separatly) fell in love with dummy nymph!reader, who just doesn't notice their feelings, please? (◕‿◕)♡

Type of Writing: Request Characters: Hades and Poseidon Name: {Character} with a Oblivious Nymph! Reader Requester: Anonymous

A/N: My first Record of Ragnarok piece in quite a while, and thankfully, this was quite funny to write. This is so full of fluff and crack that it makes broken attics look nice😂

✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅

💀 Oh sweet mercy, this guy loves yet hates your obliviousness

💀 When he first met you, he would joke around about how you were so oblivious to things, but, when he tried to confess his feelings towards you for the first time and you just replied with something so platonic-sounding, he froze

💀 Your obliviousness was going to be a hint of a problem now

" My dear, have you ever thought about having a relationship with someone? " " I guess so, yeah. Why? " " How would you feel about courting with me by your side? " " Aw! You would help me with courting! You're so sweet, Hades! "

💀 Grabbing your hand when you were scared didn't get you to realize his feelings, even when he gave you the biggest hint while still hiding the straight-forward admission, you didn't get it

💀 Hades does understand that, because your a nymph, you haven't gotten that much experience when it comes to anything romantic, as many believe you only are attracted to things relationships non-romantically

💀 Zeus and Aphrodite have tried getting you guys to get together for centuries, from trying to have you guys go on a blind-date to having you literally go on a real-date with him, you always stayed blind to the real emotions hidden behind his gestures

💀 So, unsurprisingly, Hades eventually does have to straight-up admit his feelings, leaving you flustered and a hint embarrassed

" Y/N, I must admit that I am quite fond of you. So fond that I must ask, would you like to be in a courting relationship? " " You fond someone that wants to court me? Aw, Hades, how swe- " " Not someone else. Me, my dear. " " Oh... how long have you liked me like this?! " " About the past four centuries. " " Oh sweet seraphs... "

✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋄✧⋄��⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋆⋄✧⋄⋅⋆⋄✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅

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🔱 Poseidon is not amused at all.

🔱 He is not fond of people not understanding what he said, and it doesn't help with the fact that he's very blunt and honest when it comes to his words

🔱 When he first met you, you were speaking to your boss, Aphrodite, and when he arrived to speak with her about the waves causing damages to the nearby forests

🔱 That was when he noticed how oblivious you were to pretty much everything

🔱 Aphrodite eventually noticed how Poseidon seemed to soften with his actions whenever you were around, and she was the one who prompted him to finally begin trying to tell you about his feelings, unaware that you had no clue how to take a hint

" Y/N, would you like to accompany me to Zeus' reunion next week? As my date, of course. " " Oh, yeah! It'd be fun to spend some time with my best friend! "

🔱 Okay, ouch.

🔱 It took him only two tries before he began to lose his already strained patience, and he burst that bubble the third time you pushed his advances off as a friendly confrontation

" Would you like to accompany me to Hades' meeting tomorrow afternoon, Y/N? " " Of course! Spending time with my favorite friend is amazing- " " Not as a friend. As a future spouse. " " Huh? "