hamadryad

Hamadryads (Ἁμαδρυάδες) are Greek mythological beings that live in trees. They are a specific species of dryad, which are a particular type of nymph. Hamadryads are born bonded to a specific tree. If their tree died, the hamadryad associated with it died as well. For that reason, dryads and the gods punished any mortals who harmed trees. The Deipnosophistae of Athenaeus lists eight Hamadryads, the daughters of Oxylus and Hamadryas:

• Karya (Walnut or Hazelnut)
• Balanos (Oak)
• Kraneia (Dogwood)
• Morea (Mulberry)
• Aigeiros (Black Poplar)
• Ptelea (Elm)
• Ampelos (Vines, especially Vitis)
• Syke (Fig)

References

• The Deipnosophists, or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenaeus presented online by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center

External links

• Theoi Project - Hamadryades