Les Nymphes dans la Théogonie hésiodique

Abstract

The word numphè occurs four times only in the Theogony. Nymphs are first mentioned as mountain inhabitants, then Hesiod tells us about the birth of the Melian Nymphs on occasion of Ouranos’s castration. Lastly, the term numphè is, surprisingly enough, twice applied to the monstrous Echidna. The naiads are not referred to but the Oceanids, though not described as numphai, seem to fulfill some of their functions. Creatures of intermediary status, the Nymphs appear as powers mediating between the divine and the human sphere ; finally they seem to have a scanty place in a primarily theogonic statement, which notably explains how men separated themselves from the gods.

Keywords

• nymphs
• Oceanids
• Melian nymphs
• Echidna
• Hesiod
• Theogony