NAIADES KARIAI
Greek Name
Ναιαδες
Καριαι
Νυμφαι Καριαι
Transliteration
Naiades Kariai
Nymphai Kariai
Latin Spelling
Naiades Cariae
Nymphae Cariae
Translation
Naiads of Caria
Nymphs of Caria
THE NAIADES KARIAI were the nymphs of the springs and rivers of Karia (Caria) in western Anatolia. They were sisters of the nymph Salmakis (Salmacis).
PARENTS
Presumably daughters of the River MAIANDROS
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 302 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.)
:
"[Near] the towns of Lycia . . . and Carae (Caria) . . . there is a pool, a limpid shining pool, clear to
its very bottom . . . A Nympha [Salmacis] dwelt there, not one to bend the bow or join the hunt or run to win
the race; she was the only of the Naides (Naiads) unknown to swift Diana [Artemis]. Many a time her sisters [the
Naiadsi] chide her : ‘Come, Salmacis, get out your spear or painted quiver; vary your hours of ease with
hardships of the chase.’ Yet never spear she took nor painted quiver, nor would vary her hours of ease
with hardships of the chase."
SOURCES
ROMAN
- Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.