Crocale

In Greek mythology, Crocale (Ancient Greek: Κροκάλη means ‘sea-shore, beach’) was a naiad in the train of Artemis. She was probably from Thebes by the account of her parentage.

Family

Crocale was the daughter of the river-god Ismenus, and thus possibly the sister of other naiads: Dirce, Strophia, Ismenis; and the younger Linus, the music teacher of Heracles.

Mythology

Crocale only appeared in the account of Ovid in his Metamorphoses where she was mentioned as one of the nymph attendants of Artemis who was accidentally seen naked by the hunter Actaeon:

“After Diana (i.e. Artemis) entered with her nymphs,

she gave her javelin, quiver and her bow

to one accustomed to the care of arms;

she gave her mantle to another nymph

who stood near by her as she took it off;

two others loosed the sandals from her feet;

but Crocale, the daughter of Ismenus,

more skillful than her sisters, gathered up

the goddess' scattered tresses in a knot;—

her own were loosely wantoned on the breeze.

Then in their ample urns dipt up the wave

and poured it forth, the cloud-nymph Nephele,

the nymph of crystal pools called Hyale,

the rain-drop Rhanis, Psecas of the dews,

and Phyale the guardian of their urns.

And while they bathed Diana in their streams,

Actaeon, wandering through the unknown woods,

entered the precincts of that sacred grove;

with steps uncertain wandered he as fate

directed, for his sport must wait till morn.—

soon as he entered where the clear springs welled

or trickled from the grotto's walls, the nymphs,

now ready for the bath, beheld the man,

smote on their breasts, and made the woods resound,

suddenly shrieking. Quickly gathered they

to shield Diana with their naked forms, but she

stood head and shoulders taller than her guards.—

she as clouds bright-tinted by the slanting sun,

or purple-dyed Aurora, so appeared

Diana's countenance when she was seen.”