RomanArmyTalk

I found this vase image of little butterfly and dragonfly winged fellows. Does anyone know if there is a name for this sort of fairie? (I assumed little bug winged fairies were of keltic origin.)

They were known as Dryades (singular Dryas). The Greek equivalent of the Gaelic Sylfides.

Kind regards

Thanks Stephanos. I didn't know that dryads could be so small- I thought they were nubile gilrs like nymphs. Do you know of any myths containing such little sprtie-like dryads?

See also Amadryades.

One is reputed to be mother of the Hero Arkas patriarch of the Arkadians
Another Figalia gave her name to the ancient Arcadic city.

Scholiastes (commentators) on Ovid and Apollodirus give fragment oabout Mnesimachus references to them

A certain Ferenikes says that the son of Oreios (=Mountainous) had from his wife Amadryas the doughtes Kareia Valano Krania Ptelea and others.
All these are three and plant names so it is safe to say that the ancients belived the fairies to be the origins of the trees or the souls of the trees.

Kind regards

Thanks, that's great.