dryad
dryad, in Greek mythology, a nymph or nature spirit who lives in trees and takes the form of a beautiful young woman. Dryads were originally the spirits of oak trees (drys: βoakβ), but the name was later applied to all tree nymphs. It was believed that they lived only as long as the trees they inhabited.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Matt Stefon.
Citation Information
Article Title:
dryad
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
19 March 2024
Access Date:
November 13, 2026