Nysiads

In Greek mythology, the Nysiads or Nysiades (Νυσιάδες) were Okeanid nymphs of mythical Mount Nysa. Zeus entrusted the infant god Dionysus^[1] to their care, and the Nysiads raised him with the assistance of the old satyr-god Seilenos. When Dionysus was grown the Nysiads joined his company as the first of the Bakkhantes.

Names[]

The names of the nymphs include:^[2]

Ambrosia
Arsinoe
Bromia or Bromis
Cisseis
Coronis
Erato
Eriphia
Nysa^[3]^[4]
Pedile
Polymno or Polyhymno

Also mentioned are Callichore and Calyce^[5] (after whom two moons of Jupiter, Kallichore and Kalyke, are named).

In later tellings of Dionysus's infancy, the Nysiades appear to be identified with the Hyades.^[6] The term might have been used for the Pleiades and the Hyades as Dionysus's tutors altogether.

References[]

^ Homeric Hymn 26 to Dionysus 2 ff
^ Hyginus, Fabulae, 182
^ Also occurs in Terpander, Fragment 9
^ In Diodorus Siculus' Library of History, 3. 69, she is called daughter of Aristaeus
^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca, 14. 219 ff
^ In Bibliotheca 3. 4. 3, the identification is explicit: "...the Nymphai of Asian Nysa, whom Zeus in later times placed among the stars and named the Hyades."

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[1] Homeric Hymn 26 to Dionysus 2 ff

[2] Hyginus, Fabulae, 182

[3] Also occurs in Terpander, Fragment 9

[4] In Diodorus Siculus' Library of History, 3. 69, she is called daughter of Aristaeus

[5] Nonnus, Dionysiaca, 14. 219 ff

[6] In Bibliotheca 3. 4. 3, the identification is explicit: "...the Nymphai of Asian Nysa, whom Zeus in later times placed among the stars and named the Hyades."

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