Wednesday, April 4, 2012

D is for dryad


This is the sort of picture you get when my four-year-old is helping me draw. In case you can't tell, she's a dryad. She's a sexy oak tree spirit from Greek mythology. Found in the Chronicles of Narnia, the Belgariad, and classic poetry like Milton's Paradise Lost, dryads are all over the place in literature. They were harder to catch in the myths, though. Fleet and lovely, dryads would protect their trees with ferocity. Oh, and a handful married into the human world. Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus, was a dryad.  Killed by a snake on the day of their wedding, she proved that dryads are not immortal, and that it's sad if their husband has to chase them to the underworld and fails to follow directions (don't look back!). Dryads could survive the death of their trees, but they still liked forests, and they had sister Hamadryads who would die with their trees, so the Greeks were supposed to be careful in their forests...

11 comments:

  1. When I was young, I used to remember all these stories, but by now only a few remain. Thanks for this reminder.

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  2. I love the idea of Dryads (and Druids!).

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  3. Wow, great post. I love mythology, and always thought the dryads were really interesting. I'd love to write a story about them one day. Great post and happy A-Z blogging!

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  4. Super post! Dryads never fail to work their marriage. Not looking back is a repetitive them that provokes thought.

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  5. I wish I had a figure as good as that dryad's!
    (very cute!) Hope you're having a good time with A to Z!

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  6. This is a great description and I see a future artist!

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  7. Good post, Cathy! And exceptional art! A budding artist...my granddaughter is four, and I am just so amazed at the things she comes with. It is a wonderful age, huh? :-)

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  8. Neat post! I'd forgotten about the dryads, but I loved the story of Eurydiche when I studied it in high school. I should really pull out those old mythology books and take some time to enjoy them again.

    Great A-Z post!

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  9. Love your blog! Found you through AtoZ Challenge. Can hardly wait for the rest of the challenge to see what else you post!!
    Julie
    http://theworldofjulieb.blogspot.com/

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  10. I love your 'D' post. We have oak trees in our yard, that are getting very large...must have very good dryads. I read your other posts, too. Love the mythology and poetry.
    I'm visiting on the A to Z Challenge and am a new follower.
    Kathy at Oak Lawn Images

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  11. Thanks, everyone! I can't believe I forgot to comment on all your comments--I'll make it up to you when I get time, I promise!

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