Nereids – מילון אנגלי-אנגלי
Nereid
n.
sea-nymph, one of the daughters of Nereus (Greek Mythology); one of the satellites of Neptune (Astronomy)
Nereid
Nereids
(pl. )
of Nereid
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
Nereids
[Greek] The Nereids are the fifty daughters of Nereus and Doris who dwell in the Mediterranean Sea. These beautiful women were always friendly and helpful towards sailors fighting perilous storms. They are believed to be able to prophesize. They belong to the retinue of Poseidon. In ancient art, particularly on black-figured Greek vases the Nereids were portrayed fully clothed, such as on a Corinthian vase (6th century BCE) where they stand around Achilles' deathbed, dressed in mourning-garbs. In later art they were portrayed naked or partially naked, riding on dolphins, seahorses, and other marine creatures.
Nereus
Nereus, Nereids Nereus pertains to the enclosed seas near Greece, in contradistinction to the ocean and the fresh waters. He is a later variant of Poseidon, the former ruling the sea in Atlantean times, the latter taking his place with the fifth root-race. The Nereids, the fifty daughters of Nereus, belong to the class of nature spirits presiding over water and recognized by various propitiatory rites. Like water spirits in general, they were beautiful maidens. Goats were sacrificed to them -- a sign of their connection with the mysterious sign Capricorn.
Nature spirits include elementals both slightly developed and relatively highly developed, existing in widely diverse classes. There are elementals of high spiritual character possessing intellectual attributes and extensive sway over the kingdoms of nature; whereas others are but tiny elemental entities with relatively insignificant power.
