Ethereal Chronicles

THE NEREID

The Nereids were maidens of unparalleled beauty, who resided in the Aegean sea. Born from Nereus, the ‘Old Man of the Sea’ and his consort Doris, there were fifty in total, each ruling over her own stretch of ocean.

Appearance and Attributes

Nereids, while generally indifferent to human affairs, were less friendly than Naiads, and quick to inflict punishment if angered by blinding, mutilating, causing madness in humans or even drowning them. Their voices, however, as sweet as the Siren’s song, could guide lost or drowning sailors to safety.

With their control over the sea, Nereids were masters of the elements themselves, using their power to calm raging storms and soothe turbulent waters so that ships could return home safely. Additionally, they may have possessed the ability to shapeshift at will, assuming whichever form suited their desires.

With hands and feet delicately webbed, Nereids were able to move through the water with effortless grace. Youthful and hauntingly beautiful, they sometimes appeared with seal skins, reminiscent of the gentle Selkie.

Nereids often rode the Hippocampus, a beautiful horse from the torso upwards, with the tail of a dolphin.

THE NAIAD

Naiads were water nymphs that dwelled not in the sea but in the freshwater of streams, fountains and sacred wells that dotted the landscape of Greece. Although not immortal, Naiads were blessed with exceptionally long lives.

Appearance and Attributes

The health and properties of each body of freshwater was entrusted to the care of the Naiads. Each Naiad’s domain reflected her own characteristics and powers, which became the very essence of the water. Like Nereids, Naiads were young, beautiful women, the daughters of gods, many of whom found themselves in unions with Greek heroes.

The Naiad possessed many different powers, most of which related to the gifts of Mother Earth, ensuring that there was an abundance of life and fertility. Some, however, brought healing or prophetic energies to their streams. As mothers and nurturers, Naiads often passed their gifts down to their offspring.

The sanctity of a Naiad’s stream was not to be taken lightly by a mortal passerby. Honouring her space was imperative, and mortals who refused to do so risked her withdrawal from the stream and a shift in the balance of life surrounding it. Because a Naiad’s presence was the very heart of the space, fish and wildlife would vanish, and the waters would become stagnant and lifeless in her absence.

REFERENCES

Naiad | Greek mythology | Britannica

Naiads – Mythopedia

Nereid: Mythical Creature Overview and History – Mythical Encyclopedia

Moorey, T (2011) ‘The Fairy bible’ , London: Bounty Books