Naiads and Dryads

December 23, 2012

 Dryads, we all know, are Greek mythological beings who live in forests – they are the spirits who live in trees (and yes, they are female).  Naiads are similar, but they live in water – usually fresh water, such as pools and streams one might find in a forest.  (They aren’t in sea water, those are nereids.)  

Albert Park, just a block or two over from our hotel, seems to be the perfect home for naiads, dryads, elves, hobbits, fairies, pixies, gnomes, and maybe the occasional unicorn or centaur at night.  Definitely Pan and Bacchus have spent time amongst the trees there, and have carved out living spaces within specific trees.

Or, more likely, a Maori spirit of the forest has created these trees with open centers or space between the buttressed roots, so that other beings could live in the forest and have protection from the elements and other, less benevolent spirits.

Of course, the Victorians just had to create a clock of flowers – because those forest creatures need to know when to disappear, and not be seen by humans.