Adryad (/ˈdraɪ.æd/;Greek:Δρυάδες,sing.Δρυάς) is an oaktreenymph or oak tree spirit inGreek mythology;Drys (δρῦς) means "tree", and more specifically "oak" in Greek.[1] Today the term is often used to refer to tree nymphs in general.[2]
The Maliades, Meliades or Epimelides were nymphs of apple and other fruit trees and the protectors of sheep. The Greek wordmelas, from which their name derives, means both apple and sheep. TheHesperides, the guardians of the golden apples, were regarded as this type of dryad.[citation needed]
Dryads, like allnymphs, were supernaturally long-lived and, like many, were tied to their homes, but some were a step beyond most nymphs. These were thehamadryads, who were an integral part of their trees, such that if the tree died, the hamadryad associated with it also died. For these reasons, dryads and theGreek gods punished any mortal who harmed trees without firstpropitiating the tree-nymphs. (associated with Oak trees)
InThe Chronicles of Narnia byC. S. Lewis, dryads appear as inhabitants ofNarnia, as do many creatures from Greek mythology.[12] InPrince Caspian the activity of theTelmarines in felling trees and defiling streams forces the dryads and naiads – denizens of 'Old Narnia' – into a deep sleep, from which they awaken whenBacchus andSilenus are summoned byAslan to aid in the fight against KingMiraz's army.[13]
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