Young Brunette Girl Outside In The Nature Like A Nymph

The Greek nymphs were spirits invariably bound to places, not unlike the Latin genius loci, and the difficulty transferring their cult may be seen in the complicated myth that brought Arethusa to Sicily. In the works the Greek-educated Latin poets, the nymphs gradually absorbed into their ranks the indigenous Italian divinities springs and streams (Juturna, Egeria, Carmentis, Fontus), while the Lymphae (originally Lumpae), Italian water-goddesses, owing to the accidental similarity name, could be identified with the Greek Nymphae. The mythologies classicizing Roman poets were unlikely to have affected the rites and cult individual nymphs venerated by country people in the springs and clefts Latium. Among the Roman literate class their sphere influence was restricted, and they appear almost exclusively as divinities the watery element.