NICAEA

a nymph, the daughter of the river-god Sangarius and Cybele.

A passionate huntress of exquisite beauty, she was beloved by a shepherd, Hymnus, who followed her and watched her closely. She finally became angry and shot him with one of her arrows.

Eros swore to avenge this murder and when she was heated by the hunt and washing herself in a stream, Eros led Dionysus to her so that he could see her bathing. But Dionysus found as much approval by her as Hymnos and she threatened him with whose fate.

Being thirsty by her hunting she drank from the river and, not realising that Dionysus had turned the river into wine, became intoxicated and fell asleep. Dionysus now took that which he desired.

As soon as she regained her senses she tried to kill her raper. As that was impossible, and after giving birth to a daughter Telete, she hung herself.

"She sought a remedy in death by the hanging noose and encircled her neck with a choking throttling loop, to avert the malice of her mocking years mates. Unwilling she left the ancient beast breeding forest, being ashamed after that bed to show herself to the Archeress.

Now lined with the divine dew, the seed of Lyaios, she carried a burden in her womb; and when the time came for her delivery, the lifewarming Horai played the midwives to a female child, and confirmed the nine-circled course of Selene. From the marriage of Bromios a god-sent girl grew to flower, whom she named Telete, one ever rejoicing in festivals, a night-dancing girl, who followed Dionysos, taking pleasure in clappers and the bang of the double oxhide." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca

Dionysus called the town of Nicaea after her.