Aguina |
Marina |
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Naiads- nymphs of rivers, lakes, springs, fountains, streams
and other waters not the sea; they were the spirits of these places. They
brought the water's bounty to the trees and plants and were therefore thought
to be bringers of fertility; it was an ancient custom to sprinkle the bride's
bed with spring waters to encourage childbirth. They were also believed
to have special healing powers which thy bestowed on the waters called
the curative springs. They stayed mostly underwater by day and were rarely
seen by mortals, but on some special nights they arose from the waters
to trouble men's dreams, for they were invariably described as beautiful,
being usually the daughters of the local river god. Nereid- sea-nymphs named after their father, an old sea-deity; he fathered fifty in all with the beautiful nymph, Doris. The daughters were as beautiful as their mother; mermaids who swam in shining schools and served as ladies in waiting for their sister, Amphitrite, the sea queen. |