Greek Myths XS: Hylas and his Nymph

When Herakles encountered king Theodamas, he was at a low point in his life, and filled with anger towards the whole world. Almost without thinking, he stopped the royal chariot,  slaughtered one of the bulls pulling it, and ate it. When the king objected, he did the same to him, except for the eating. But his mood changed when he met the king’s son, Hylas. What a lovely boy he was! Totally enamoured, he took Hylas under his wing, and together, they embarked for the Argonaut expedition. At first, Hylas felt proud to have such a famous companion, but soon, he realised that the life of a mercenary wasn’t for him. One day, when the ship had moored for the night, he went to fetch water. Kneeling by the pond, he noticed an alluring nymph, reaching out to him. “Dive in,” she whispered. “Take the jump…” He couldn’t resist. A desperate Herakles looked for him for weeks, but Hylas hid on the bottom of the pond, in the warm embrace of his nymph. And until now, his offspring comes out when the moon is full, and they dance in the waterlilies.

Hylas and the Water Nymphs, Henrietta Rae, Private Collection

Hylas and the Nymphs, John Willam Waterhouse, Manchester Art Gallery, UK