Greek Mythology >> Nymphs >> Naiads >> Nymphs of Ortygia (Nymphai Ortygiai)

NYMPHAI ORTYGIAI

Greek Name

Νυμφαι Ορτυγιαι

Transliteration

Nymphai Ortygiai

Latin Spelling

Nymphae Ortygiae

Translation

Nymphs of Ortygia

THE NYMPHAI ORTYGIAI were the Naiad-nymphs of the springs of Syrakousa (Syracuse) on the island of Ortygia in Sicily.

PARENTS

Perhaps daughters of the local River ANAPOS

NAMES

KYANE, ARETHOUSA

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 5. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Each one of them [the goddesses] received for her portion a territory [in Sicily] . . . Artemis received from the gods the island of Syrakousa (Syracuse) [off the coast of Sicily] which was named after her, by both the oracles and men Ortygia. On this island likewise these Nymphai (Nymphs), to please Artemis, caused a great fountain to gush forth to which was given the name Arethousa (Arethusa). And not only in ancient times did this fountain contain large fish in great numbers, but also in our own day we find these fish still there, considered to be holy and not to be touched by men."