The Three Graces
detail from La Primavera
by Sandro Botticelli
by rtpoe
Well, it seems that I let out a few in Part 1. So it's time to rectify some of
those omissions.
| The Graces are the goddesses in charge of joy, beauty, charm, happiness, and feasts. They were the daughters of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. They were often the companions of Aphrodite, and served as messengers for Eros. You could also catch them dancing to the Muses or Apollo's music. They are best known for appearing in a painting by Botticelli (see right). At first, their number wasn't specified. Hesiod is responsible for settling on the number three, and he also gave them the names of Thalia (Good Cheer), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Aglaia (Splendor). Though apparently not busty, they are at least party-loving girls. You'll find more on them here. |
The Three Graces detail from La Primavera by Sandro Botticelli |
|
Sylphs are elemental beings of the air that were "invented" in the late Middle
Ages/early Renaissance by cabalists. They are depicted as slim females with
huge wings. As beings of the Air, they dwell on mountaintops and shun human
contact. They later were adopted/adapted into the general faerie mythos and now
appear in a lot of fantasy role-playing games. Along the way, however, Mikhail
Fokine choreographed a ballet,
Les Sylphides
, in which sylphs dance with a poet to music by Chopin.
Given that they are creatures of the air, it's possible that they may figure in inflation fantasies.... |
"Sylph" by "Mary" |
| The aquatic shapeshifters native to the Orkneys, Hebrides, Shetland Islands, and the Scottish coast. Similar to mermaids, they combine human and seal aspects. They are also a lot less malevolent than mermaids. When they come onto land, they remove their seal skins. If you want to capture one, just grab its seal skin (it can't go back to the water without it). A lot of the selkie legends involve single people getting the skin in order to coerce the Selkie into becoming their mate. Of course, the Selkie then will try anything to get its skin back and flee... There are both male and female selkies, and both genders are reputed to be very attractive to the opposite sex. The Selkie legend made its most notable recent appearance in the movie The Secret of Roan Inish . Virtually everything you could want to know about selkies can be found here |
"Selkie" Sculpture by Stevi T. |
|
Surely those who guard (against evil) are in a secure place, In gardens and
springs;
They shall wear of fine and thick silk, (sitting) face to face; Thus (shall it
be), and We will wed them with Houris pure, beautiful ones.
--The Qu'ran (44.51-54)
Houris are the beautiful maidens in Islam's paradise that are there for the enjoyment of the faithful. Said to be perpetual virgins, most modern scholars of Islam consider the passages to be allegorical. But that's like saying that the Song of Solomon in the Bible is not about sex.... These days, they figure often in Baha'i mysticism . But there, their erotic nature is downplayed. |
"Houri" by "Soko" |