The Cave of the Storm Nymphs , Sir Edward Poynter

The Cave of the Storm

1903

An olive tree  
with long pointed leaves stands at the harbour head,
and close beside it there's a pleasant shadowy cave,
sacred to the nymphs whom people call the Naiads.*  -
Mixing bowls and jars of stone are stored inside,
and bees make honey there.  The cave has long stone looms 
where nymphs weave cloth with a deep sea-purple dye, 
an amazing thing to see.  In there, too, are springs
which always flow.  The cave has two entrances—
one, which faces North Wind, is the one men use  
to go inside; the other one, which faces South Wind, 
is divine—human beings may not go in there,
for the pathway is confined to the immortals.

Odyssey Book 13

See also

Sir Edward Poynter

A Visit to Aesculapius, 1880
Helen of Troy , 1881
The Cave of the Storm Nymphs , 1903
The Vision of Endymion , exh. 1913


Mythology Images