Oreads – The Enchanting Nymphs of the Mountains

The Oreads or Orestiades were the Nymphs of the mountains in Greek mythology. Their origins and characteristics differ according to their dwelling, meaning the mountain they live at. Most myths associate them with the goddess Artemis, who used to hunt in mountains and rocky terrain. Let’s further explore the world of the Oreads and their roles in numerous myths.

The Oreads – Key Facts

Name and Etymology

Oread is derived from the Greek word ὄρος (oros), meaning mountain. It is quite possible that the name “Oread” is a generic term from the Hellenistic period. It first appears in the epitaph of Adonis, written by the Bion of Smyrna in 100 BC.

Many other terms were coined to describe mountain nymphs. The majority of which include the word “oros” in some form or another. These are:

• Orestiades: meaning “of the mountains”.
• Oressigonoi: meaning “born of the mountains”.
• Oreiai / Oureiai: meaning “of the mountains”.
• Oreskooi: meaning “of the mountains”.
• Akraiai: from the Greek word ἀκρη (akree), meaning “of the heights”.
• Petraiai: from the Greek word πέτρα (petra), meaning “of the rocks”.

Origin of the Oreads

The Oreads, like the Dryads, have obscure origins. It’s possible that they have no common ancestry, as the Nereids did. On the contrary, these nymphs may have descended independently from various parents.

According to different sources, some possible ancestors of the Oreads are:

• Zeus
• Hermes
• Dorus
• Satyroi
• The Dactyloi and the Hecaterides

Bearing in mind these possible ancestries, the Oreads could be the sisters of the Dryads, other nymphs, the satyrs, Curetes, or even other Olympian gods and demi-gods, etc.

The Oreads and the other Nymphs

The Oreads is a large category of nymphs. Quite different from other nymphs like the Nereids. Their origins, stories, and roles are well-documented and specific. Instead the term “Oread” encompassed numerous subcategories. In some accounts, for instance, the Dryads, the Hamadryads, and the Alseides, belonged to the “umbrella categorization” of the Oreads.

In some other accounts, the Oreads could also encompass the freshwater nymphs, Naiads. This loose classification could possibly create confusion, but we will treat Oreads as if they were a completely distinct category.

Names of the Oreads

The names of some Oreads are quite famous, as they are the protagonists of certain fairly well-known myths. One such myth is the one of Echo and Narcissus which I will share below.

Various categories of Oreads:

Apart from these broad classifications, there are a few nymphs among the Oreads who are distinctively well-known. These include:

Britomartis

Britomartis was an Oread nymph, possibly the daughter of Zeus and Carme. Britomartis dwelled in Mount Dicte of Crete. In some accounts, she was conflated with goddesses Artemis or Aphaea, the protectress of Aegina. She was also called Dictynna, “lady of the nets”.

Chelone

Chelone was an Oread nymph in mountain Chelydorea in Arcadia, whose name meant “full of turtles”. When she refused to attend the marriage of Zeus and Hera, either Zeus (according to Aesop) or Hermes (according to Servius) transformed her into a turtle.

Cyllene

Cyllene was an Oread nymph in mountain Cyllene in Arcadia. Cyllene was the region where Hermes was born and brought up, while the nymph herself could be the god’s nurse. Mount Cyllene was considered to be the highest mountain in the Peloponnese region and Hermes was worshipped there.

Echo

Echo was an Oread nymph who lived in mountain Cithaeron in Boeotia. She is most famous for being cursed by goddess Hera to only be able to reiterate the last words ever spoken to her and fall in love with Narcissus.

Eidothea

Eidothea was an Oread nymph in mountain Othrys in central Greece. Her consort was Eusiros, son of Poseidon, and they became the parents of Cerambus, who angered the nymphs and they turned him into a beetle.

The Idaeae | Adrasteia, Cynosura, Helike, Ida

The Idaeae nymphs lived in Crete and were charged by Rhea with nurturing the infant Zeus and protecting him from his father Cronus. According to Apollodorus, these nymphs were Adrasteia and Ida, while according to Hyginus, these nymphs were Cynosura and Helike.

Adrasteia was originally a mountain goddess from Phrygia who went on to be identified with Nemesis in the 5^th century BC and/or Cybele. Her name means “inescapable”, and she represented the inevitability of fame. Ida’s name means “wooded mountain” and she was associated with the mountain Ida in Crete. Diodorus Siculus describes that the nymphs were turned into the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor by Zeus as a reward.

Cynosura’s name means “dog tail” and, according to Hyginus, she sheltered Zeus in a cave and nurtured him in Ida. Helice’s name means “willow nymph”. In this account, Cynosura was turned into Ursa Minor and Helice into Ursa Major.

Nomia

Nomia was the Oread who resided in the Nomian Mountains in Arcadia. She was a companion of Callisto.

Oenone

Oenone was an Oread who lived in Mount Ida in Phrygia. She was offered the gift of prophecy by Rhea. Oenone was the first wife of Paris of Troy.

Othreis

Othreis was an Oread nymph who resided in mountain Othrys and was the consort of both Zeus and Apollo. She became the mother of Meliteus through Zeus, who was nurtured by bees.

Pitys

Pitys was an Oread nymph who was pursued by Pan. In some accounts, she was pursued by both Pan and Boreas.

Sinoe

Sinoe was an Oread nymph of mountain Sinoe in Arcadia. She was possibly one of the nurses of Pan when he was an infant.

Sose

Sose was an Oread nymph from Arcadia who was also a prophetess. She became the consort of Hermes and birthed Agreus, one of the Pans.

Myths about the Oreads

The Oreads were the protagonists of various myths in Greek mythology. Ever since the Iliad, it has been described how the Oreads cultivated the mountains and the forests around them. The Oreads are often companions and/or consorts of the gods. Let’s review some of the most common myths surrounding certain Oreads.

Echo and Narcissus

Echo was a nymph who was either pursued by Zeus or covered up his affairs. In the first case, Hera punished her for having an affair with Zeus by cursing her to only be able to repeat the last words she heard. In the second case, Echo engaged Hera in long conversations to distract her so she wouldn’t find out about the affairs of Zeus. When Hera realized what was happening, she cursed Echo.

This curse became a tragic fate when Echo met Narcissus, a very handsome young man. She fell deeply in love with him but could not express her feelings. According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Echo spotted young Narcissus while he was hunting, and she fell in love with him. Then Narcissus called out while hunting, and Echo could only repeat his words back to him. Their interaction turned into a cruel game. When Echo finally found him and tried to fall in his arms, he cried “Hands off! May I die before you enjoy my body”. The only thing Echo was able to say back was “Enjoy my body” and she vanished into thin air as she was greatly humiliated by the interaction.

Heartbroken, Echo kept watching as Narcissus succumbed to his own reflection in a pool of water. When he passed, Echo mourned for him, echoing his last farewell. In the end, Echo faded away, her beauty turning to stone, and all that remained of her was the sound of her voice, forever a reminder of her unfulfilled love.

Pitys and Pan

The Oread Pitys attracted the attention of Pan, a playful and often troublesome god. Pitys was terrified of Pan’s persistent advances and sought refuge from him. To protect her, the gods turned her into a pine tree so she could escape.

In a different version of the story, Pitys became caught in a competition between Pan and Boreas, the North Wind. Boreas uprooted trees to impress her, while Pan tried to win her heart with laughter. In the end, Pitys chose Pan, but this angered Boreas. He chased her down and threw her off a cliff, causing her to fall to her death. In a final act of kindness, Gaia turned her body into a pine tree.

Oenone and Paris

Oenone, the first wife of Paris of Troy, tells another sad tale among the Oreads. She lived on Mount Ida and had the gift of prophecy from her mother, the Titaness Rhea. When Paris, who was once a shepherd, fell in love with Oenone, she predicted he would eventually betray her. Even though Paris brushed off her concerns, he eventually did leave her and crossed the seas to steal Helen, making Oenone’s prophecy come true. It is further described that Oenone took revenge on Paris by sending Corythus to guide the Greeks to Troy.

Depictions, Characteristics, and Symbols

The Oreads, akin to all nymphs, were depicted as ethereal young female deities. They embodied the essence of the mountains, often envisioned alongside other nature gods like Pan and Artemis. They were often depicted fully naked or wearing long tunics. 

Oreads were believed to oversee various activities in the mountainous regions, including herding, hunting, beekeeping, tree felling, and quarrying. Many of the Oreads were also attributed to oracular abilities, like Oenone.

In their personality, Oreads emanated both nurturing qualities—caregivers of the wild—as well as detachment akin to the untamed mountains they represented. They were capable of both benevolence and vengeance, depending on the treatment received from mortals. However, they weren’t that involved in human affairs like other nymphs.

Various Oreads were associated with unique fauna native to their territories. However, the universal symbol embodying their identity is the mountain itself.

The Oreads in the Arts

The Oreads have inspired a myriad of artistic representations throughout history. Some of the most famous works of art depicting Oreads are:

• Les Oréades by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1902)
• Echo and Narcissus by John William Waterhouse (1903)
• Pan and Pitys by Edward Calvert (1850)
• Daphnis recounting the tale of Echo to Chloe by François Boucher (1743)

Moreover, ancient texts reference them in various mythological contexts. Works such as Hesiod’s Theogony, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and Homer’s Iliad highlight their significant roles in Greek mythology.

Frequently Asked Questions

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