List of Narnian Creatures - N

N

• Naiad - (See Nymph)

• Nymph - Nymphs are nature spirits that live in the trees and waters. They are capable of leaving their tree or watery domains and assuming a physical body resembling human form. They are so spiritually tied to their places of nature that, if it is destroyed, the nymph bound to that place dies with it. Nymphs are originally from classical mythology, and although there are no male nymphs in mythology, Lewis does mention male wood gods and river gods as being related to nymphs in his books. Wood nymphs and water nymphs were present at Aslan's camp playing harps upon the arrival of the Pevensies and the Beavers.
  • Dryads - Dryads are tree nymphs that are capable of leaving their trees and assuming a physical body similar to human form. Each individual dryad is bound to a specific tree and if that tree dies, its dryad will die as well. Dryads are fond of dancing and often dance with fauns. They are described as having heads crowned with leaves, wearing garments matching the colors of their specific trees and as having their trees' physical characteristics (i.e. pale, slender birch girls; queenly, graceful beeches; melancholy elms). In addition to dryads, hamadryads, silvans and tree people are also mentioned, but it is unknown if they are a separate species of nymph or if they are just synonymous titles for dryads. (MN), (LWW), (PC), (SC), and (LB).
  • Hamadryads - Hamadryads are tree nymphs similar to dryads, but the books do not establish whether they are a separate kind of tree spirit or simply dryads with a synonymous nickname. In Greek tales, they are sometimes described as the nymphs of oak trees, or as dryads who simply live in their trees, but are unable to leave, or as the dryads who die with their trees. (PC).
  • Sylvans - Sylvans are tree spirits, although Lewis does not tell the reader whether they are a separate kind of tree spirit or if they are simply dryads with a synonymous nickname. Silvan means "related to trees".
  • Wood Gods - Wood Gods are male tree spirits. They inhabit and are spiritually tied to trees like, oaks, elms, hollies, and rowans. Like the wood nymphs, they are capable of leaving their trees and assuming physical bodies or using their trees as their bodies. They also are spiritually bound to their trees, and die if their trees are cut down. (MN), (PC), and (LB)
  • Tree People - Tree People are wood gods and goddesses who use their trees as their physical bodies. Lewis doesn't specify whether they are the same as any of the other spirits or a unique species. They are described as beautiful giants and giantesses who have branch-like hair and fingers. They have roots for feet and wade in the earth like humans do in water. A whole swarm of trees dance sleepily around Lucy and Aslan when they are reunited, and even aid the Old Narnian Army in defeating the Telmarines. During the Hundred Years' Winter, many tree spirits turned evil and joined the White Witch's side; however, generations later, they aid the Old Narnian Army in defeating the Telmarines. Lewis states that tree people usually eat a variety of soils, such as loam or bits of silver sand and the like (PC).
  • Naiads - Naiads are nymphs of the rivers, wells, and streams. They can leave their watery domains and assume physical bodies resembling human form. When a stone bridge is built over a river, the naiads in it will become imprisoned in the river. They have been known to dance with fauns and dryads occasionally. Four river nymphs are mentioned as being train bearers for Queen Helen. Although no specific description is given, Pauline Baynes does draw them as pretty women wearing gowns in various shades of blue and sometimes wearing rushes on their heads like the river gods. They were omitted from the first two films, but are portrayed in the 2010 film. They take the place of the Sea People and are portrayed as having bodies made entirely out of water, and were intended to have legs, but were given tails like fish or dolphins instead when diving over the waves. (MN), (LWW), and (PC).
  • River Gods - River Gods are male water spirits. As their name states, they only inhabit rivers while water nymphs may inhabit other bodies of water also. One River God is mentioned rising out of the Great River of Narnia with his nymph daughters, and other river gods are mentioned as becoming husbands to the daughters of King Frank and Queen Helen. Another River God is mentioned lifting his head from the river with the river nymphs upon hearing Aslan's roar. He appears again and asks Aslan to "loose his chains," i.e. destroy the bridge that crosses his river at Beruna (MN) (PC). In the 2008 film of Prince Caspian, the river god is digitally portrayed as a giant man made entirely out of water with hair and beard made of foam, who rushes at the Telmarines, creating tidal waves and even destroying the bridge. In an illustration in Prince Caspian, the River God is depicted as a giant man with his head crowned with rushes, and covered with swampy muck and moss; however, the River God in The Magician's Nephew is depicted as a normal-sized, elderly man, his head still crowned with rushes, but dressed in a blue robe and a green cloak.
  • Maenads - The Maenads are followers of Bacchus, and are described as "wild, madcap young girls". They are physically identical to human girls, and are not proper nymphs, such as Dryads and Naiads. They were omitted from the 2008 film. (PC).
  • Silenus - Silenus is the tutor of Bacchus and part of his entourage, depicted as a portly drunk riding a donkey. In classical mythology, Silenus is one of the Sileni, represented as fat men or as part men, part donkeys similar to Fauns. Silenus was omitted from the 2008 film.
  • People of the Toadstools - The People of the Toadstools are followers of the White Witch. No physical description is ever given of them. In illustrations of the battle and Aslan's sacrifice, they are drawn as large toadstools that have roots that are used as limbs. (LWW)
  • Nymphs of Poisonous Plants - The nymphs of poisonous plants are mentioned as followers of The White Witch during Aslan's sacrifice at The Stone Table.