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Naiad

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Naiad
A NaiadbyJohn William Waterhouse,1893; a water nymph approaches the sleepingHylas.
GroupingNymphs
Sub groupingWater spirit
Elemental
Similar entitiesMermaid
Huldra
Selkie
Siren
HabitatAny body of fresh water
Greek deities
series
Water deities
Waternymphs

InGreek mythology,thenaiads(/ˈnaɪædz,ˈneɪædz,-ədz/;Greek:ναϊάδες,translit.naïádes), sometimes alsohydriads,[1]are a type of female spirit, ornymph,presiding over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies offresh water.

They are distinct fromriver gods,who embodied rivers, and the very ancient spirits that inhabited the still waters of marshes, ponds and lagoon-lakes such as pre-MycenaeanLernain theArgolis.

Etymology

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The Greek word isναϊάς(naïás[naːiás]), pluralναϊάδες(naïádes[naːiádes]). It derives fromνάειν(náein), "to flow", orνᾶμα(nâma), "running water".

Mythology

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Undine,byJohn William Waterhouse

Naiads were often the object of archaic local cults, worshipped as essential to humans. Boys and girls at coming-of-age ceremonies dedicated their childish locks to the local naiad of the spring. In places like Lerna their waters' ritual cleansings were credited with magical medical properties. Animals wereritually drownedthere. Oracles might be situated by ancient springs.

Naiads could be dangerous:Hylasof theArgo’s crew was lost when he was taken by naiads fascinated by his beauty. The naiads were also known to exhibit jealous tendencies.Theocritus's story of naiad jealousy was that of a shepherd,Daphnis,who was the lover ofNomiaor Echenais; Daphnis had on several occasions been unfaithful to Nomia and as revenge she permanently blinded him. The nymphSalmacisrapedHermaphroditusand fused with him when he tried to escape.

The water nymph associated with particular springs was known all through Europe in places with no direct connection with Greece, surviving in theCelticwells of northwest Europe that have been rededicated to Saints, and in the medievalMelusine.

Walter Burkert points out, "When in theIliad[xx.4–9]Zeuscalls the gods into assembly on Mount Olympus, it is not only the well-knownOlympianswho come along, but also all the nymphs and all the rivers;Okeanosalone remains at his station ",[2]Greek hearers recognized this impossibility as the poet'shyperbole,which proclaimed the universal power of Zeus over the ancient natural world: "the worship of these deities," Burkert confirms, "is limited only by the fact that they are inseparably identified with a specific locality."[2]

Interpretation

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Robert Gravesoffered a sociopolitical reading of the common myth-type in which a mythic king is credited with marrying a naiad and founding a city: it was the newly arrivedHellenesjustifying their presence. The loves and rapes of Zeus, according to Graves' readings, record the supplanting of ancient local cults by Olympian ones (Graves 1955,passim).

So, in the back-story of the myth ofAristaeus,Hypseus, a king of theLapiths,married Chlidanope, a naiad, who bore himCyrene.Aristaeus had more than ordinary mortal experience with the naiads: when his bees died inThessaly,he went to consult them. His aunt Arethusa invited him below the water's surface, where he was washed with water from a perpetual spring and given advice.

Types and individual names

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List of classified naiads
Name Location Notes/ Relation
I.Eleionomae marshes -
II.Crinaeae fountains -
TheSithnides Megara,Attica one of them became the mother ofMegarosby Zeus
Aganippe Mt. Helicon,Boeotia daughter of the river-godTermessus[3]
Appias Rome lived in the Appian Well outside the temple toVenus Genitrixin theRoman Forum
Myrtoessa Megalopolis,Arcadia one of the nurses of infant Zeus[4]
III.Limnades lakes -
TheAstakides Lake Astacus,Bithynia appeared in the myth ofNicaea
Bolbe Lake Bolbe, Thessaly anOceaniddue to her parentage (daughter ofOceanusandTethys)[5]
Limnaee lake inIndia daughter of theIndianriver godGanges;one of the reputed mothers ofAthis
Pallas Lake Tritonis,Libya daughter ofTritonor ofPoseidonand Tritonis; accidentally killed by her playmate, the goddessAthena[6]
Tritonis Lake Tritonis, Libya mother ofNasamonandCaphaurus(or Cephalion) byAmphithemis,[7]and according to an archaic version of the myth, also of Athena by Poseidon; she could be also the mother of above Pallas and Athena again by Triton
IV.Potameides rivers -
TheAcheloides Achelous River,Aetolia daughters of the river godAchelous;see also Castalia and Callirhoe below
• TheSirens(possibly) Island ofAnthemoessa their mother could be one of theMuses(Terpsichore,MelpomeneorCalliope) orSterope;they were close companions of the goddessPersephonebefore her abduction
TheAesepides Aesepus River,Troad daughters of the river godAesepus
•Abarbarea -do- wife ofBucolionby whom she mothered twin sons, Aesepus andPedasus[8]
TheAmnisiades Amnisus River,Crete daughters of the river godAmnisoswho served as handmaidens of the goddessArtemis
TheAsopides Asopus River,SicyonorBoeotia daughters of the river godAsopusandMetope;all abducted by the gods
•Aegina Island ofAegina mother ofMenoetiusbyActor,andAeacusby Zeus[9]
•Asopis - -
•Chalcis Chalcis,Euboea regarded as the mother of theCuretesandCorybantes;perhaps the same as Combe and Euboea below
•Cleone Cleonae,Argos -
•Combe Island of Euboea consort ofSocusand mother by him of the seven Corybantes
•Corcyra Island ofCorcyra mother ofPhaiaxby Poseidon
•Euboea Island of Euboea abducted by Poseidon
•GargaphiaorPlataiaorOeroe Plataea,Boeotia carried off by Zeus
•Harpina Pisa,Elis mother ofOenomausbyAres
•Ismene[10] Ismenian spring ofThebes,Boeotia wife ofArgus,eponymous king of Argus and thus, mother ofArgus PanoptesandIasus.
•Nemea Nemea,Argolis others called her the daughter of Zeus andSelene
•Ornea Ornia, Sicyon -
•Peirene Corinth others called her father to beOebalusorAchelousby Poseidon she became the mother ofLecheasand Cenchrias
•Salamis Island ofSalamis mother ofCychreusby Poseidon
•Sinope Sinope,Anatolia mother ofSyrusbyApollo
•Tanagra Tanagra,Boeotia mother ofLeucippusand Ephippus byPoemander
•Thebe Thebes, Boeotia wife ofZethusand also said to have consorted with Zeus
•Thespeia Thespia,Boeotia abducted by Apollo
TheAsterionides Asterion River,Argos daughters of the river godAsterion;nurses of the infant goddessHera
•Acraea -do- -
•Euboea -do- -
•Prosymna -do- -
The Cephisides CephissusRiver, Boeotia daughters of the river godCephissus;mothers of the 50 sons ofOrion
The Cocythiae Cocytus River,Underworld naiads ofHades
The Erasinides Erasinos River, Argos daughters of the river godErasinos;attendants of the goddessBritomartis.
•Anchiroe -do- -
•Byze -do- -
•Maera -do- -
•Melite -do- -
The Hydaspides Hydaspers River,India daughters of the river godHydaspesand Astris, they were nurses of the godZagreus,the first-born Dionysos
The Inachides Inachos River,Argos daughters of the river godInachus
•Io -do- mother ofEpaphusby Zeus
•Amymone -do- -
•Philodice[11] -do- wife ofLeucippusofMesseniaby whom she became the mother ofHilaeira,Phoebeand possiblyArsinoe
•Messeis -do- -
•Hyperia[12] -do- -
•Mycene -do- wife ofArestorand by him probably the mother ofArgus Panoptes;eponym ofMycenae
The Lamides Lamos River,Cilicia daughters of the river god Lamos; nurses of the god Dionysus
The Pactolides Pactolus River,Lydia appeared in the myth concerningArachne
TheSpercheides Spercheus River,Malis daughters of the river godSpercheusand the naiad Deino
•Diopatre -do- others called her the daughter of Zeus; loved by Poseidon
The Thessalids Peneus River,Thessaly daughters of the river godPeneus
•Daphne -do- loved by the god Apollo;see below entry of Daphne
•Menippe -do- wife ofPelasgus,by whom she became the mother ofPhrastor
•Stilbe -do- bore to Apollo twin sons,CentaurusandLapithus.
•Cyrene -do- also called the daughter of Peneus' son Hypseus and mother of Aristaeus andIdmonby Apollo
Trojan Nymphs or Trojan Naiads Scamander Riverand Simoeis River, Troad daughters of the river gods,ScamanderandSimoeis
•Callirrhoe Scamander River, Troad daughter of the river godScamander;wife ofTrosand mother ofIlus,AssaracusandGanymede
•Glaucia -do- daughter of the Trojan river godScamander;wife of Deimachus and the mother of Scamander who was named after his grandfather
•Strymo -do- wife of KingLaomedonand the mother of KingPriamandTithonus
•Astyoche Simoeis River, Troad daughter of the river godSimoeis,mother ofTrosbyErichthonius
•Hieromneme -do- daughter of the river-god Simoïs and the wife ofAssaracus,by whom she boreCapysor the daughter-in-law of Assaracus, wife of Capys and mother ofAnchises
Individual Potameides:
Anchinoe Nile River,Egypt daughter of the riverNilus;wife of the Egyptian KingBelus;mother ofAegyptusandDanaus,and perhaps,CepheusandPhineus.
Anippe Nile River, Egypt loved by the god Poseidon by whom she became the mother ofBusiris
Argiope Nile River, Egypt daughter of the river Nilus; wife ofAgenorand mother ofEuropa,Phoenix,CilixandCadmus;commonly known asTelephassa
AsteropeorHesperia Cebren River, Troad daughter of the river godCebrenand lover ofAesacus,also calledHesperia
Caliadne Nile River, Egypt presumably one of the daughters of the river-godNilus;one of the wives ofAegyptus,bearing him 12 sons:Eurylochus,Phantes,Peristhenes,Hermus,Dryas,Potamon,Cisseus,Lixus,Imbrus,Bromios,Polyctor,andChthonios
Chione Nile River, Egypt daughter of theOceanidCallirrhoeand the river godNilus
Cleochareia Eurotas River,Laconia queen consort of KingLelexand mother ofMylesandPolycaon
Deino Spercheus River, Malis wife of the river godSpercheiosand by him the mother ofDiopatre[13]
Eunoë Sangarius River, Phrygia daughter of the river-god Sangarius; she was the possible mother ofHecubabyDymas[14]
Europa Nile River, Egypt one of the daughters of the river-god Nilus; wife ofDanauswho bore him theDanaides
Eurryroe Nile River, Egypt one of the daughters of the river-god Nilus; wife of Aegyptus who bore him fifty sons
Hercyna Herkyna River,Lebadeia a childhood companion of the goddess Persephone
Ismenis Ismenos River, Thebes daughters of the river godIsmenus;mother, byPan,of Crenaeus, a defender ofThebesagainst theSeven
Lethe Lethe River,Hades -
Memphis Nile River, Egypt daughter ofNilus;she was the wife toEpaphusand mother ofLibyaand Anippe orLysianassa
Metis Meles River,Smyrna daughter of the river godMeles;mother ofHomerbyMaeon
Moria Hermos River,Lydia brother of Tylus
Nana Sangarius River, Phrygia daughter of the river-god Sangarius; she was impregnated by an almond from the tree sprung from the severed genitals ofAgdistis,giving birth toAttis.
Neda Neda River,Arcadia daughter of Oceanus; one of the nurses of infantZeus
Ocyrhoe Imbrasus River, Samos daughter of the river godImbrasusandChesias;she was pursued by the god Apollo
Ocyrhoe Sangarius River, Phrygia daughter of the river-godSangarius;she was the mother, byHippasus,ofHippomedon
Ocyrhoe Caicus River,Mysia mother ofCaicusbyHermes
Polyxo Nile River, Egypt or in Libya presumably one of the daughters of the river-godNilus;she was one of the wives ofDanausand bore him 12 daughters:Autonoe,Theano,Electra,Cleopatra,Eurydice,Glaucippe,Anthelea,Cleodora,Euippe,Erato,Stygneand Bryce
Styx Styx River, Underworld anOceanid;she was the wife ofPallasand thus mother ofZelus,Nike,Kratos,andBia
Symaethis SymaithosRiver, Sicily loved by Pan
Syrinx Ladon River,Arcadia daughter of the river godLadon;pursued by Pan
Tereine Strymon River,Thrace daughter of the river godStrymon;mother ofThrassaby Ares
Zeuxippe Eridanus River,Athens mother ofButesbyTeleon
V.Pegaeae springs -
TheAnigrides Elis daughters of the river god Anigros, were believed to cure skin diseases[15][16][17]
TheCorycianNymphs Corycian cave,Delphi,Phocis daughters of the river godPleistos
•Kleodora(or Cleodora) Mt. Parnassus,Phocis mother of Parnassus by Poseidon
•Corycia Corycian cave, Delphi, Phocis mother ofLycoreusbyApollo
•Melaina -do- mother ofDelphosbyApollo
The Cyrtonian nymphs Boeotia local springs in the town of Cyrtones[18][19]
TheDeliades Delos daughters ofInopus,god of the river Inopus[20][21]
The Himerian Naiads[22][23]
TheIonides Elis daughters of the river god Cytherus[24]
•Calliphaea -do- -
•Iasis -do- -
•Pegaea -do- -
•Synallaxis -do- -
The Ithacian nymphs Ithaca dwelled in sacred caves on the island[25]
The Leibethrides
•Libethrias
•Petra[26][27]
The Mysian Naiads Bithynia dwelled in the spring of Pegae near the lake Askanios and were responsible for the kidnapping ofHylas[28][29]
•Euneica
•Malis
•Nycheia[30]
The Ortygian nymphs Sicily local springs ofSyracuse[31][32]
ThePierides
The Rhyndacides daughters of the river godRhyndacus[33]
Individual Pegaeae:
Albunea
Xanderirhoe Mt. Ida,Troad daughter of the river godGrenikos;mother ofAesacusbyPriam[34]
Archidemia[35]
Arethusa Island ofOrtygia daughter ofNereus[36][37][38]
Automate Argos -
Callirrhoe Acarnania mother ofAmphoterusandAcarnanbyAlcmaeon
CastaliaorCassotis Delphi, Phocis others called her the daughter of the river godCephissus[39]
Comaetho daughter or wife of the river godCydnus[40]
Cyane Sicily playmate ofPersephonewho was changed into a well through grief at the loss of her
Dirce transformed into a spring (presumably into a nymph personifying it) after her death
Hagno Arcadia one of the nurses of infantZeus
Langia[41]
Magea[35]
Milichie[35]
Metope Arcadia daughter of the river-god Ladon and wife ofAsopus
Pegasis daughter of the river god Grenikos[42]
Peuce Peuce Island mother ofPeucon
Pharmaceia Attica nymph of a poisonous spring andOrithyia's playmate[43][44]
Physadeia Argolis
Psanis Arcadia may have been the wife of the river god Ladon
Salmacis
Strophia Thebes spring on MountCithaeron;barely personified[45]
Telphousa Arcadia daughter of the river-godLadon
Temenitis[35]
Theisoa Arcadia
List of other naiads
Name Location Relations
Aba Ciconia,Thrace presumed daughter of the riverHebros;mother ofErgiscusbyPoseidon[46]
Abarbarea Tyre ancestors of theTyriansalong withCallirrhoeandDrosera
Aegle - daughter ofZeusandNeaera,by whomHeliosbegot theCharites
Aia Colchis loved by the river-godPhasis.
Alcinoe Mt. Lycaeus,Arcadia one of the nurses of the god Zeus
Anchiroe Arcadia one of the nurses of the god Zeus
Anchiroe Libya wife of thePsyllitribe's first kingPsyllus
Annaed - -
Anthedon Boeotia -
Anthracia Arcadia one of the nurses of the god Zeus
Argiope Mt. Parnassus,Phocis possibly the daughter of the river-godCephissus,mother ofThamyrisbyPhilammon
Argiope Eleusis possibly the daughter of the river-god Cephissus, mother ofCercyonbyBranchus
Argyra Achaea loved by the heroSelemnus
Ascra Boeotia loved byPoseidonwho bore him a sonOeoclus
Asterodia Caucasus daughter ofOceanusandTethys;loved by the Colchian kingAeetesby whom she had a sonApsyrtus
Asterope Sicily an Oceanid; mother ofAcragasby Zeus
Bateia Sparta married KingOebalusofSpartaand mother of their sons wereHippocoon,TyndareusandIcarius
Bistonis Thrace mother ofTereusby Ares
Byzia Byzantium -
Callirrhoe Tyre ancestors of theTyriansalong withAbarbareaandDrosera
Ceto - an Oceanid; she bore Helios a daughter,Astris
Chesias Samos loved by the river god Imbrasis
Charybdis - daughter ofPoseidonandGaia
Chlidanope possibly Thessaly wife of Hypseus and mother Cyrene
Cleide Naxos one of the nurses of the godDionysus
Cleomede Paeonia daughter of the river godAxius;she was the wife ofPaeon
Clonia Boeotia consort ofHyrieusand by him became the mother ofNycteusandLycus
Cnossia Crete mother ofXenodamosbyMenelauswhen he visited the island
Coronis Naxos one of the nurses of the godDionysus
Cretheis Smyrna,Ionia mother ofHomerby the river godMeles
Creusa Thessaly daughter ofGaia;she boreHypseusandStilbeto the river godPeneus
Cyanea Miletus,Caria daughter of the riverMeander;wife of king Miletos and mother by him ofCaunusandByblis
Danais Elis she was loved by the Pisan kingPelopsby whom she became the mother of his bastard son,Chrysippus
Daphne Arcadiaor Laconia daughter of the river-godLadonor of kingAmyclas;loved by the god Apollo
Daulis Boeotia daughter of the river-god Cephisus
Dercetis Boeotia mother ofAlatreusbyLaphitaon
Diogeneia Attica daughter of the river-god Cephisus; the wife of the Athenian lordPhrasimosand mother by him ofPraxithea
Drosera Tyre ancestors of theTyriansalong withAbarbareaand Callirhoe
Echenais Sicily blinded his unfaithful loverDaphnis
Eupheme Boeotia nurse of the Muses; mother of Crotus byPan
Evadne Argolis daughter ofStrymonandNeaera,wife ofArgus(king ofArgos), mother ofEcbasus,Peiras,EpidaurusandCriasus
Glauce Arcadia one of the nurses ofZeus
Hagno Arcadia one of the nurses ofZeus
Harmonia Acmonia, Phrygia mother of theAmazonsby Ares
Hippe Argolis -
Lara Rome daughter of the riverAlmo;mother of theLaresbyMercury
Lilaea Phocis daughter of the local river-god Cephisus
Liriope Phocis bore a sonNarcissusto the river-god Cephisus
Lotis Dryopia/Doris escape from the embraces ofPriapuswas metamorphosed into a tree
Melanthea - daughter of the river-godAlpheus;she bore toPoseidona daughter,Eirene
Melia Argolis an Oceanid; mother, byInachus,ofPhoroneusandAegialeus
Melia Boeotia an Oceanid; mother, byApollo,ofTenerusandIsmenus
Melia Bithynia mother, byPoseidon,ofMygdonandAmycus,kings ofBebryces
Melia Bithynia she was the mother bySilenusofDolion
Melia Ceos mother, byApollo,of Ceos
Melite Corcyra daughter of the river-godAegaeusand mother ofHyllusbyHeracles
Methone Pieria mother ofOeagrusbyPierus
Midea Boeotia mother of Aspledon byPoseidon
Minthe Elis daughter ofCocytus;loved by the godHadesbut as punishment her boasts was transformed by Persephone orDemeterinto a mint-plant
Nacole Phrygia eponym of Nacoleia
Nais Laconia wife ofSilenus
Neaera Thrace wife of the river-godStrymon,and mother ofEvadne
Neaera Lydia mother of Dresaeus byTheiodamas
Neis - mother ofAetolusbyEndymion
Nicaea Bithynia daughter of the river-godSangariusandCybele.By the god of wine,Dionysus,she motheredTelete(consecration)
Nomia Arcadia companion of Callisto
Nonacris Arcadia wife ofLycaonand the mother ofCallisto
Ocyrhoe Colchis mother ofPhasisbyHelios
Orseis Thessaly mother ofDorus,AeolusandXuthusbyHellen
Ortygia Lycia nurse of Apollo
Paria Paros mother ofEurymedon,Nephalion,Chrysesand Philolaus byMinos
Periboea Laconia wife ofIcarius,mother ofPenelope,Perilaus,Aletes, Damasippus, Imeusimus and Thoas
Pero Sicyon mother of Asopus by Poseidon
Philia Naxos one of the nurses of the godDionysus
Phrixa Arcadia one of the nurses of Zeus
Pitane Laconia daughter of the river godEurotas,became by Poseidon the mother of Evadne
Praxithea Athens marriedErichthonius of Athensand by him had a son namedPandion I
Pronoe Lycia mother ofAegialusbyCaunus
Rhodope Thrace mother ofHebrosbyHaemusand ofCiconby Apollo[47]
Samia Samos wife of Ancaeus
Sparta Sparta daughter of the river god Eurotas; mother of Amyclas and Eurydice byLacedaemon
Syllis Sicyon mother ofZeuxippusby Apollo
Thronia Thrace mother ofAbderusby Poseidon
Tiasa Sparta daughter of the river god Eurotas

Place names

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Postgate, J. P."On the Alleged Confusion of Nymph-Names. Appendix".The American Journal of Philology.18(1): 74–75.doi:10.2307/287931.ISSN0002-9475.
  2. ^abBurkert, III, 3.3,p. 174.
  3. ^Pausanias,9.29.5
  4. ^Pausanias,8.31.4
  5. ^Athenaeus,Deipnosophistae8.334e
  6. ^Apollodorus,3.12.3.
  7. ^Hyginus,Fabulae14
  8. ^Homer,Iliad6.21–23
  9. ^Apollodorus, 3.11.2
  10. ^Apollodorus, 2.6
  11. ^TzetzesonLycophron,511
  12. ^Callimachus,Aitiafr. 66;Valerius Flaccus,4.374 ff.
  13. ^Antoninus Liberalis,22
  14. ^Scholia on Homer'sIliad16. 718 withPherecydesas the authority
  15. ^Strabo,8.3.19
  16. ^Pausanias, 5.5.11
  17. ^Theoi Project - Anigrides
  18. ^Pausanias, 9.24.4
  19. ^Theoi Project - Nymphai Kyrtoniai
  20. ^Callimachus,Hymn IV to Delos252
  21. ^Theoi Project - Deliades
  22. ^Pindar,Olympian Odes12
  23. ^Diodorus Siculus,5.5.1
  24. ^Pausanias, 6.22.7
  25. ^Homer,Odyssey13.96 ff.
  26. ^Strabo, 9.2.25; 10.3.17
  27. ^Pausanias, 9.34.4
  28. ^Apollonius Rhodius,Argonautica1.1225 ff.
  29. ^Hyginus,Fabulae14
  30. ^Theocritus,Idylls13.44
  31. ^Diodorus Siculus, 5.5.1
  32. ^Theoi Project - Naiades Ortygiai
  33. ^Theoi Project - Rhyndacides
  34. ^Ovid,Metamorphoses11.762 ff.
  35. ^abcdPliny the Elder,Natural History3. 89, in a list of Sicilian springs, of which only Arethousa and Cyane are known to have been personified
  36. ^Strabo, 6.2.4
  37. ^Ovid,Metamorphoses5.407 & 487 ff.
  38. ^Virgil,Aeneid3. 694 ff.
  39. ^Pausanias, 10.8.9 & 10.24.7
  40. ^Nonnus,Dionysiaca2.143-144 & 40.141-143
  41. ^Statius,Thebaid4.716
  42. ^Quintus Smyrnaeus,3.300
  43. ^Plato,Phaedrus229
  44. ^"Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, v. 3, page 238".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-05-14.Retrieved2018-08-25.
  45. ^Callimachus,Hymn 4 to Delos75 ff.
  46. ^Suida,s.v.Ergiske
  47. ^Etymologicum Magnum513, 37, underKikones
  48. ^Naiad Lake.SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica

References

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