Nymphs In Ancient Greece

The use of mythology is nothing new when it comes to ancient civilizations. The ancient Greeks were some of those who used myths to explains their everyday lives, as well as set standards for how people should look, act, and dress. Gods and heroes blazed a trail for the Greek citizens to follow in, and each one served a different purpose. Aphrodite was seen as the physical embodiment of female beauty, Hercules was the ultimate alpha-male, and the nymphs were the spirits of the beautiful gardens around Greece. Everyone had a deity to look up too in Greek mythology. The Greeks also created these myths as a way to explain the natural phenomena that surrounded them. They had explanations for everything from the rising sun to the changing seasons.

These mythological creatures were “…minor nature goddesses which populated the earth.” There are many different types of nymphs which all have different parts of nature that they control. Naiads control rivers, streams, lakes and such while dryads were in control of trees and woodlands. Nymphs are only female, but satyrs and tritons are the male equivalents of these woodland goddesses. Satyrs have the horns, tails, and legs of goats, but the torsos and heads of men. Similarly, Tritons have the upper bodies of men and the tails of fish. These creatures keep peace in the natural world. Demeter and Poseidon cannot oversee every living plant or babbling brook they employ these spirits to do their

Being the demigod son of Zeus, Hercules was despised by Hera, Zeus’ wife, as he was the result of another one of Zeus’ affairs. Hera was jealous of Hercules, because he was seen as the greatest Greek hero to ever live. In an effort to tarnish Hercules’ reputation, Hera sent him into a temporary madness, forcing him to kill his wife and children. After his insanity had passed, Hercules sought guidance from the Oracle of Delphi. She directed him to serve King Eurystheus; performing twelve labors as his punishment murdering his family. One, and possibly the most famous, of these labors is that of the Lernean Hydra. The Hydra is a mythical creatures with nine heads. The trouble comes when you attempt to kill it. When you cut off one of it’s heads, two more grow back in its place. The Hydra was created by Hera with the intent purpose of slaying Hercules. The Hydra had one immortal head, that when cut off would kill the beast. With the help of his nephew Iolaus, Hercules successfully defeated the Hydra. “Each time Hercules bashed one of the hydra's heads, Iolaus held a torch to the headless tendons of the neck. The flames prevented the growth of replacement heads…” With all of his strength and glory Hercules was the perfect deity for Greek warriors to look up