HAMADRYAS

HAMADRYAS was a Dryad-nymph of Mount Othrys in Malis (central Greece). She was the daughter of Oreios "Of the Mountain", wife of Oxylos "Of the Forests", and mother of eight Hamadryades who each presided over a specific type of tree.

Hamadryas' name means "Together-with-Tree" and "Together-with-Oak" from the Greek words hama and drys --the latter being both "holm oak" and generic "tree." She was probably the first oak-tree nymph.

PARENTS

OREIOS (Athenaeus 78b)

OFFSPRING

THE HAMADRYADES (KARYA, BALANOS, KRANEIA, MOREA, AIGEIROS, PTELEA, AMPELOS, SYKE) (by Oxylos) (Athenaeus 78b)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 1. 78a (trans. Gullick) (Greek rhetorician C2nd to 3rd A.D.) :
"The Epic poet Pherenikos (Pherenicus), a Herakleto by birth, declares that the fig (sykon) was named from Syke (Fig-Tree), the daughter of Oxylos (Thick with Woods); for Oxylos, son of Oreios (of the Mountain), married his sister Hamadryas (One with Tree) and begot among others, Karya (Nut-Tree), Balanos (Acorn-Tree), Kraneia (Cornel-Tree), Morea (MulberryTree), Aigeiros (Black Poplar-Tree), Ptelea (Elm-Tree), Ampelos (Vines), and Syke (Fig-Tree); and these are called Nymphai Hamadryades (Hamadryad Nymphs), and from them many trees derive their names. Hence, also, he adds, Hipponax says : ‘The black fig-tree (syke), sister of the vine (ampelos).’"

SOURCES

GREEK

• Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae - Greek Rhetoric C3rd A.D.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.