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In Greek mythology, the Nysiads or Nysiades (Ancient Greek: Νυσιάδες) were Oceanid 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 Silenus. When Dionysus was grown the Nysiads joined his company as the first of the Maenads.

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.

Notes

  1. Homeric Hymn 26 to Dionysus 2 ff.
  2. Hyginus, Fabulae 182
  3. Also occurs in Terpander, fr. 9
  4. In Diodorus Siculus, 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."

References