In representation of ancient Greeks of force of nature nymphs – spirits in the form of beautiful girls personified. Nymphs were divided into groups depending on where they lived and what force owned.
Water nymphs
Nymphs of the ocean were called by okeanidam, them there were three thousand, all of them were daughters of the ocean. Okeanida were associated not only with the ocean, but also with the seas and the rivers. Nereids are nymphs of the seas. They were generated by god of the sea Nerey and one of okeanid – Dorida. Ancient Greeks christened nymphs of sources and streams Naiads. Limnada is nymphs of the small reservoirs located on meadows. Among water nymphs nereids Galatea and Amfitrita, okeanida Klimena, Styx and Leta, naiads of Pyrene, Kokitida and Alopa are most known. Leta is a nymph of the known river of oblivion. According to one of versions, the nymph Klimena - mother Prometaya and Atlanta.
Nymphs of plants
Dryads and gamadriada – patronesses of trees and the wood. Wood nymphs - a whole with the tree. Greeks considered if to strike a blow to a tree, then the injuries will be sustained also by the nymph living in it. The meliada living in an ash-tree were the most ancient of wood spirits. Alseida is the nymphs living in groves. Names of wood nymphs of Eurydice, Siringi and Meliya are mentioned in Ancient Greek myths. The sad story of Eurydice and her husband Orpheus is known.
Nymphs – keepers of mountains were named by orestiadam. In mountains at shout of words the echo, perhaps is heard, the name of one mountain nymph came from this phenomenon. An echo died from one-way love to the Narcissus, having left behind only a voice. Names of others orestiad – Dafna, Maya, Ido are known. Dafna was considered as the first beloved of god Apollo. But she did not reciprocate to him and to escape from his love was turned into a laurel tree. Nymphs became materm of gods and prophets. So, an orestiada Maya gave birth from Zeus to god Hermes – the patron of envoys and dealers.
Other nymphs
Hesperides are the most famous nymphs. The garden of gods in which they protected gold apples was the place of their dwelling. The quantity and names of Hesperides changed from the myth to the myth. It is known that them there were no more than seven. A galaxy or Atlantis – nymphs, daughters Atlanta. By their names it is called group of stars in the constellation of the Taurus. Several myths how they got on a firmament are connected with galaxies. At Atlantis Meropy the husband was a person of whom the nymph was ashamed. For this reason the ancient Greeks explained that Merop's star the most dim because of the confusion. Other names of galaxies – Electra, Steropa, Taygeta, Alkiona, Keleno, Maya. Nympha Adarsteya cared for Zeus when he was a baby. As embodiments of the nature of the nymph had dual essence. They brought the benefit to people, cured, gave advice, predicted future. At the same time the nymph could send madness on the person, having killed him thereby.