D is for Dryad

Trees coming alive and trees being inhabited by otherworldly beings have long been part of the stories we tell.

Folklore

BULFINCH’S MYTHOLOGY THE AGE OF FABLE OR STORIES OF GODS AND HEROES by Thomas Bulfinch [1855]

The three last named were immortal, but the wood-nymphs, called Dryads or Hamadryads, were believed to perish with the trees which had been their abode and with which they had come into existence. It was therefore an impious act wantonly to destroy a tree, and in some aggravated cases was severely punished, as in the instance of Erisichthon, which we are about to record.

ERISICHTHON.

Erisichthon was a profane person and a despiser of the gods, On one occasion he presumed to violate with the axe a grove sacred to Ceres. There stood in this grove a venerable oak, so large that it seemed a wood in itself, its ancient trunk towering aloft, whereon votive garlands were often hung and inscriptions carved expressing the gratitude of suppliants to the nymph of the tree. Often had the Dryads danced round it hand in hand. Its trunk measured fifteen cubits round, and it overtopped the other trees as they overtopped the shrubbery. But for all that, Erisichthon saw no reason why he should spare it and he ordered his servants to cut it down. When he saw them hesitate he snatched an axe from one, and thus impiously exclaimed: “I care not whether it be a tree beloved of the goddess or not; were it the goddess herself it should come down if it stood in my way.” So saying, he lifted the axe and the oak seemed to shudder and utter a groan. When the first blow fell upon the trunk blood flowed from the wound. All the bystanders were horror-struck, and one of them ventured to remonstrate and hold back the fatal axe. Erisichthon, with a scornful look, said to him, “Receive the reward of your piety;” and turned against him the weapon which he had held aside from the tree, gashed his body with many wounds, and cut off his head. Then from the midst of the oak came a voice, “I who dwell in this tree am a nymph beloved of Ceres, and dying by your hands forewarn you that punishment awaits you.” He desisted not from his crime, and at last the tree, sundered by repeated blows and drawn by ropes, fell with a crash and prostrated a great part of the grove in its fall.

The Dryads, in dismay at the loss of their companion and at seeing the pride of the forest laid low, went in a body to Ceres, all clad in garments of mourning, and invoked punishment upon Erisichthon. She nodded her assent, and as she bowed her head the grain ripe for harvest in the laden fields bowed also. She planned a punishment so dire that one would pity him, if such a culprit as he could be pitied- to deliver him over to Famine. As Ceres herself could not approach Famine, for the Fates have ordained that these two goddesses shall never come together, she called an Oread from her mountain and spoke to her in these words: “There is a place in the farthest part of ice-clad Scythia, a sad and sterile region without trees and without crops. Cold dwells there, and Fear and Shuddering, and Famine. Go and tell the last to take possession of the bowels of Erisichthon. Let not abundance subdue her, nor the power of my gifts drive her away. Be not alarmed at the distance” (for Famine dwells very far from Ceres), “but take my chariot. The dragons are fleet and obey the rein, and will take you through the air in a short time.” So she gave her the reins, and she drove away and soon reached Scythia. On arriving at Mount Caucasus she stopped the dragons and found Famine in a stony field, pulling up with teeth and claws the scanty herbage. Her hair was rough, her eyes sunk, her face pale, her lips blanched, her jaws covered with dust, and her skin drawn tight, so as to show all her bones. As the Oread saw her afar off (for she did not dare to come near), she delivered the commands of Ceres; and, though she stopped as short a time as possible, and kept her distance as well as she could, yet she began to feel hungry, and turned the dragons’ heads and drove back to Thessaly.

Famine obeyed the commands of Ceres and sped through the air to the dwelling of Erisichthon, entered the bedchamber of the guilty man, and found him asleep. She enfolded him with her wings and breathed herself into him, infusing her poison into his veins. Having discharged her task, she hastened to leave the land of plenty and returned to her accustomed haunts. Erisichthon still slept, and in his dreams craved food, and moved his jaws as if eating. When he awoke, his hunger was raging. Without a moment’s delay he would have food set before him, of whatever kind earth, sea, or air produces; and complained of hunger even while he ate. What would have sufficed for a city or a nation, was not enough for him. The more he ate the more he craved. His hunger was like the sea, which receives all the rivers, yet is never filled; or like fire, that burns all the fuel that is heaped upon it, yet is still voracious for more.

His property rapidly diminished under the unceasing demands of his appetite, but his hunger continued unabated. At length he had spent all and had only his daughter left, a daughter worthy of a better parent. Her too he sold. She scorned to be a slave of a purchaser and as she stood by the seaside raised her hands in prayer to Neptune. He heard her prayer, and though her new master was not far off and had his eye upon her a moment before, Neptune changed her form and made her assume that of a fisherman busy at his occupation. Her master, looking for her and seeing her in her altered form, addressed her and said, “Good fisherman, whither went the maiden whom I saw just now, with hair dishevelled and in humble garb, standing about where you stand? Tell me truly; so may your luck be good and not a fish nibble at your hook and get away.” She perceived that her prayer was answered and rejoiced inwardly at hearing herself inquired of about herself. She replied, “Pardon me, stranger, but I have been so intent upon my line that I have seen nothing else; but I wish I may never catch another fish if I believe any woman or other person except myself to have been hereabouts for some time.” He was deceived and went his way, thinking his slave had escaped. Then she resumed her own form. Her father was well pleased to find her still with him, and the money too that he got by the sale of her; so he sold her again. But she was changed by the favour of Neptune as often as she was sold, now into a horse, now a bird, now an ox, and now a stag- got away from her purchasers and came home. By this base method the starving father procured food; but not enough for his wants, and at last hunger compelled him to devour his limbs, and he strove to nourish his body by eating his body, till death relieved him from the vengeance of Ceres.

The Element Encyclopedia of Fairies by Lucy Cooper

Tree spirits, or nymphs, from Greek mythology. Deriving from the Greek drus, meaning “oak tree”, “dryad” has come to refer to all tree spirits.

These female spirits were guardians and protectors of the forest. Hamadryads were spirits associated with one particular tree, who died when their tree died or was felled.

*More can be read in the book.

Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology by Theresa Bane

Dryad

Variations: hamadryad

Although originating in the lore of ancient Greece the dryads are well known all throughout the Celtic countries. The Dryads are one of twelve species of nymphs; they are the nymphs of the forests and trees, particularly oak trees. They have the power to both punish those who abridge the life of the trees under their protection or reward those who actively extend and protect their lives. The life of the dryad is tied to its tree; it is only as long lived as its tree. Ash, oak, and thorn trees are especially important in the Celtic traditions; when these three species of trees are found together they form what is called a fairy triad. The trees in these groves are considered sacred to fairies, more so to the dryads.

Described as looking like the perfection of female beauty and youth a dryad woman will take a human male as her lover… Daphne, the dryad associated with the laurel tree, was loved and pursued by the god, Apollo.

Kijimuna

Specific to the island of Okinawa, Japan, the kijimuna are a type of dryad living in the trees and guiding and protecting humans.

*More can be read in the book.

The Forest in Folklore and Mythology by Alexander Porteous

Among the latter were Nymphs, and it was believed that to them was given the guardianship of the woods and of the trees… The Nymphs we have particularly to deal with here were imagined by the Greeks as beautiful female forms. They were the Wood-Nymphs or Dryads, a variety of them were known as Tree-Nymphs or Hamadryads.

Certain young and lovely Nymphs who dwelt in forests and groves were known as Dryads, and they were the companions and attendants of the huntress goddess Artemis. In the Orlando Furioso it is said that Rinaldo saw one in the Enchanted Forest where

“An aged oak beside him cleft and rent,
And from his fertile hollow womb forth went
(Clad in rare weeds and strange habiliment)
A full-grown Nymph.”

It was considered unlucky to see the Dryads or to keep company with them… As distinguished from the Dryads, who, though having their abodes in trees and groves, were free to move about, was another class of beings known as Hamadryads, or purely Tree-Nymphs, who dwelt in trees, were believed to be part of the tree, and whose existence was closely bound up with that of the tree… When their tree withers and dies the Hamadryads also cease to be, and when their tree happens to be cut down, a cry of anguish escapes them as the axe descends.

*More can be read in the book.

The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlín Matthews

Dryads

One of two guardian tree spirits found in Greek mythic tradition. The others are the Hammadryads, who are permanently attached to their trees, and sometimes die when their trees are cut down. Dryads, on the other hand, are able to leave their trees and wander or dance in the groves of the forest. They are often described as companions to the moon goddess Artemis, and they also sometimes accompany the Dionysus, the god of wine. It is considered unlucky to see them or remain in their company.

*More can be read in the book.

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

Dryads are ancient Greek female woodland spirits. Attendants of Artemis, they are the guardians of trees, groves, and forests. The dryads live in trees but should not be confused with hamadryads, who are stationary spirits of individual trees that die when a tree is felled. Dryads, on the other hand, move around quite easily. To see them was considered unlucky, although this may be because as vigilant guardian spirits they most frequently made themselves visible when displeased and intent on inflicting disciplinary action. Dryads are appeased and propitiated with offerings of milk, water, wine, oil, and honey.

*More can be read in the book.

Further Reading:

• Dryad
• Dryad
• Dryads and Other Faery Folk
• Dryad
• DRYADES & OREIADES
• ‘A geography of trees’- wood elves in myth and popular culture
• THE FAIRY TREES: BLACKTHORN, HAWTHORN AND ROWAN

Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel

Dryads come from Greek mythology. They were originally the tree nymphs of oak trees, but have come to be tree nymphs in general and even human-tree hybrids in works of fantasy.

According to Greek mythology, there are different types of tree nymphs:
Dryads: nymphs of oak trees.
Daphnaie: nymphs of laurel trees.
Epimelides: nymphs of apple (and other fruit) trees.
Hamadryad: dryads integrally tied to their trees (if the tree dies, the dryad dies).
Meliae: nymphs of ash trees.
Caryatids: nymphs of walnut trees.
Oreiades: nymphs of pine trees.

Dryads are nymphs who live in trees and take the form of beautiful young women. There is a sense of ancient timelessness to them. They exist to watch over and take care of the tree they were born into – and sometimes groves and other creatures. Dryads can disappear by stepping into a tree. They fiercely and mischievously protect what is theirs.

Dryads are believed to have power over nature, at least as far as their home is concerned. Their powers bring a sense of awe and wonder to mortals who revere them and terror and fear to those who cross them. The places their trees inhabit are filled with mystic energy and vitality. They are frequently mentioned in various forms of art (visual and written). To this day, they are respected and worshipped in pagan rituals.

Dryads can be as infinite in number as the trees on Earth. Which is why the saying “knock on wood” is a protective incantation where a dryad will appear to protect the person who called her.

For more about trees, go check out my post about Faery Trees and Forests.

Dryads in Modern Culture

Dryads in movies

The Chronicles of Narnia

Dryads were spirits of Narnian trees. They were able to assume physical bodies similar to human form, and the same size as normal humans, and they could go in and out of their trees like blossom petals. They appear as minor characters in The Chronicles of Narnia film series.

Learn more about the movies here.

Dryads in Games

The Witcher

Dryads, also known as eerie wives by humans and Aen Woedbeanna in Elder Speech, are the nymphs of the woods, concentrated primarily in their forest realm of Brokilon. Born through sexual contacts with other races or transformed by the Water of Brokilon, they are exclusively female and their descendants remain so for many generations even without drinking the Water.^[4]
Transformed dryads are referred to as naturalised dryads, while the subrace of dryads who have the deepest connection with the forest and are symbiotic with given tree are called hamadryads.^[1]

Learn more here.

Dryads in Books

In all of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books, Dryads appear in different forms and with different abilities.

A dryad (or wood nymph) is a usually female spirit often associated with a certain tree.

Learn more about dryads in this series here.

The monotony of farm work is killing Julian. Between his boring life and his demanding father, Julian is losing his passion for music and his hope for a life of travel. When he escapes work for a day in the woods, he stumbles upon a beautiful dryad and finds the beginnings of the life he’s always wanted. But the dryad’s magic runs deeper than he understands, and Julian must leave with her before his newly rekindled dreams are torn from him. 

Check it out on Goodreads.

Panther-shifter, Kemnebi Davis, lives a normal life as an accountant until he’s called before the Shifter Council. Unknown to the shifter community, the Council needs help; and the only way for that to happen is for Kem to marry the daughter of one of the Nymph Council. Except there’s one problem; Lia. The woman who has been occupying Kem’s thoughts since a chance meeting a year ago…

Xylia Dentro has a secret. One that she’s managed to keep from her father and sister for nearly a year. But when she encounters the man who started it all, she can’t deny the pull she feels towards him; despite everything that’s standing in their way…

Check it out on Goodreads.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth – that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. 

Check it out on Goodreads.

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Barclay is still haunted by an encounter she had eight years ago – a run-in with a fairy beast that had eyes like witchlight and a taste for flesh. Charlotte has avoided the Greenwood ever since, pretending fairies don’t exist and choosing instead to focus her energies on graduating from high school and perfecting her audition piece for the Bellini Institute. However, everything changes when her mom goes missing, kidnapped by the fairies that haunt the forest behind Charlotte’s home.

When Charlotte’s search for her mom leads her into the fairy realm, she discovers that she hails from a line of Shrine Keepers – humans tasked with maintaining ancient fairy shrines. Charlotte’s family has failed their duties to the fae, and now she has no choice but to strike a deal with the dryad, an ancient and powerful tree nymph responsible for her mom’s disappearance. But the dryad only gives her a month to complete her task: retrieve five stolen fairy stones and return them to the ancient fairy shrine. If she doesn’t return the stones in time, the dryad has threatened to imprison another of Charlotte’s loved ones.

Charlotte dives into a world as magical as it is deadly, coming face-to-face with fairy creatures that never get mentioned in the story books – including the creature that haunts her dreams. She must embrace her task and conquer her fears, or else she’ll never see her mom again.

Check it out on Goodreads.

Technically, all the faeries in this book are dryads as they are plants.

Check it out on Goodreads.

Dryads in My Writing

Origin of the Fae: Dryads
Also known as Tree Nymphs or Hamadryads. Most often, Dryads refer to those Tree Nymphs who reside in Oak trees, but “Dryad” has come to be interchangeable with “Tree Nymph”.
Though they are bound to their tree (if the tree dies, they die), they are free to move about in their grove, forest, garden, etc.
Dryads residing in Faerie can live for many centuries. Dryads living in the mortal realm are prey to mortal whims (cutting down trees for silly things like building fires instead of gathering fallen limbs).
Dryads are the most revered among nature fae (Imps, Pixies, etc.) who know the worth of their accumulated knowledge.

Tree Nymphs translated to Afrikaans: Boomnimfe

See them in action:

Tortured Tales (Faery Tales #6)

A wooden plank path led to the tree and around it. Even now that she was her usual size again, the ferns were huge. And the yellowwood tree was gigantic.

‘When I was still green,’ the brown imp said, ‘the entire forest was filled with trees as big as this one.’

‘You were never green!’ the green imp – the obvious jester in the group – joked.

‘Did they all have nymphs living in them?’ Carla asked.

‘No, not all,’ a new voice said sadly.

All the imps fell flat on the floor. A light green woman walked out of the tree. She wore a dress made of the tree’s leaves.

‘You need more help than the dear imps can give you,’ the nymph said to Carla.

Forest Fae Friends, Tortured Tales, Faery Tales #6, Ronel Janse van Vuuren

Where did you encounter dryads for the first time? What do you think of them? Any folklore about dryads you’d like to share? Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to the subject.

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