The Dryad by Evelyn De Morgan. A dryad (/ ˈ d r aɪ. æ d /; Greek: Δρυάδες, sing. Δρυάς) is an oak tree nymph or oak tree spirit in Greek mythology; Drys (δρῦς) means "tree", and more specifically "oak" in Greek. [1] Today the term is often used to refer to tree nymphs in general. [2]

One huge oak was covered with votive wreaths, a symbol of every prayer Ceres had granted, and so the men refused to cut it down. Erysichthon grabbed an axe and cut it down himself, killing a dryad nymph in the process. The nymph's dying words were a curse on Erysichthon.

Aug 31, 2019 · Satyrs are purely male entities, just as Dryads are purely a form of Nymph, which are always female. Fossegrim aren't even part of the same mythological group, for that matter - whereas Satyrs and Dryads are Greek, Fossegrim are Scandinavian.

Jun 22, 2020 · The Dryads were one of the many types of nymphs in Greek lore. The nymphs were minor goddesses, usually tied to a specific place. They represented natural features like bodies of water, islands, or mountains.

Apr 8, 2017 · Dryads are timeless and existed long before man, but mankind has had interactions with them throughout history. A few notable Dryads were taken as wives by men; examples would be Atlanteia and Phoebe who were both wives of Danaus. The gods and sons of gods have seduced some as well.

Jan 9, 2023 · Dryads and Hamadryads were nymphs—minor female divinities who represented various aspects of nature. Originally, Dryads and Hamadryads formed two different categories of nymphs connected with oak trees (both terms come from the ancient Greek word for “oak tree”).

Dec 20, 2024 · Dryads are tree spirits from Greek myths, very closely linked to the trees they live in. Different types of dryads are connected to specific trees, like Daphnaie with laurels. They act as protectors of forests and are often tied to gods like Artemis. In myths, they are shown as beautiful young women connected strongly to nature.

Aug 13, 2022 · Dryads often hid from humans, but they could be playful. They enjoyed the company of Pan, the god of the wild. Fauns and nymphs would often play together. Their wild nature came out during the revelries of Dionysius when the wine god would bring his wild wine-infused parties through the forests.

Feb 25, 2025 · Dryads, also called hamadryad, in Greek mythology, is a nymph or nature spirit that lives in trees and takes the form of a beautiful young woman. Dryads were originally the spirits of oak trees (seca: “oak”), but the name was later applied to all tree nymphs.

Apr 17, 2024 · Dryads, in their elusive allure, were muses not just to rustling green canopies but also to sculptors and poets. In ancient Greek art, Dryads tend to cavort in the peripheral vision exactly where you'd expect: clinging affectionately to tree trunks, peeping behind hefty oaken bulwarks, or gamboling beneath arboreal canopies.