naiad

The fresh-water nymphs who inhabited the numerous lakes, springs, rivers, and brooks. They are the daughters of the various river gods, the potamoi. The naiades (ναϊάδες) often appear as the lovers or the nurses or the attendants of the Olympian gods, and as the wives of local rulers. Many have cities and islands named after them by their children.

The naiades can be further classified by habitat:

• pegaeae, the naiades of springs;
• crinaeae, the naiades of fountains;
• potamides, the naiades of rivers and streams;
• limnades, the naiades of lakes;
• eleionomae, the naiades of marshes.

They are also called hydriades. See further the entry on nymphs.

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