Editing Nymph (section)

{{Short description|Greek and Roman mythological creature}}
{{About|the creatures of Greek mythology}}
{{Infobox mythical creature
|name             = Nymph
|image            = William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Nymphs and Satyr (1873) HQ.jpg
|image_size       =
|caption          = [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]], ''[[Nymphs and Satyr]]'', 1873. [[Clark Art Institute]].
|Grouping         = [[Mythological creature|Mythological]]
|Sub_Grouping     = [[Nature spirit]]
|Similar_entities = [[Mermaid]], [[helloi]]s, [[huldra]]
|Country          = [[Greece]]
}}
{{Greek deities (nymphs)}}

A '''nymph''' ({{langx|grc|{{linktext|νύμφη}}|nýmphē}}; {{IPA|grc-x-attic|nýmpʰɛː|lang|link=yes}}; sometimes spelled '''nymphe''') is a minor female [[nature deity]] in [[ancient Greek folklore]]. Distinct from other [[Greek goddesses]], nymphs are generally regarded as [[personification]]s of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, landform, or tree, and are usually depicted as [[Virginity|maidens]]. Because of their association with springs, they were often seen as having healing properties;{{Sfn|Larson|2001|p=5}} other divine powers of the nymphs included [[divination]] and [[shapeshifting]].{{Sfn|Larson|2001|p=11, 71}} In spite of their divine nature, they were not [[immortality|immortal]].<ref>''[[Brill's New Pauly]]'', s.v. Nymphs.</ref>

Nymphs are divided into various [[Nymph#List|broad subgroups]] based on their habitat,{{Sfn|Grimal|1996|pp=313-314}} such as the [[Meliae]] ([[ash tree]] nymphs), the [[Dryad]]s ([[oak tree]] nymphs), the [[Alseid]]s ([[Grove (nature)|grove]] nymphs), the [[Naiad]]s ([[Spring (hydrology)|spring]] nymphs), the [[Nereids]] (sea nymphs), the [[Oceanids]] (ocean nymphs), and the [[Oread]]s (mountain nymphs). Other nymphs included the [[Hesperides]] (evening nymphs), the [[Hyades (mythology)|Hyades]] (rain nymphs), and the [[Pleiades (Greek mythology)|Pleiades]] (companions of [[Artemis]]).

Nymphs featured in [[Ancient Greek art|classic works of art]], [[Ancient Greek literature|literature]], and [[Greek mythology|mythology]]. They are often attendants of goddesses and frequently occur in myths with a love motif, being the lovers of heroes and other deities.{{Sfn|Grimal|1996|pp=313-314}} Desirable and promiscuous, nymphs can rarely be fully domesticated, being often aggressive to their mortal affairs.{{Sfn|Larson|2001|p=4}}<ref name="Parad1997">{{cite web|title=Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology: Nymphs|year=1997|last1=Parad|first1=Carlos|last2=Förlag|first2=Maicar|url=http://www.maicar.com/GML/NYMPHS.html|publisher=Astrom Editions|access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref> Since the [[Middle Ages]], nymphs have been sometimes popularly associated or even confused with [[fairy|fairies]].