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Proteus
In Greek mythology, Proteus ( ; ) is an early prophetic sea god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea" (''hálios gérôn''). Some who ascribe a specific domain to Proteus call him the god of "elusive sea change", which suggests the changeable nature of the sea or the liquid quality of water. He can foretell the future, but, in a mytheme familiar to several cultures, will change his shape to avoid doing so; he answers only to those who are capable of capturing him. From this feature of Proteus comes the adjective protean, meaning "versatile", "mutable", or "capable of assuming many forms". "Protean" has positive connotations of flexibility, versatility and adaptability. Name origin Proteus's name suggests the "first" (from Greek language, Greek "" , "first"), as () is the "primordial" or the "firstborn". It is not certain to what this refers, but in myths where he is the son of Poseidon, it possibly refe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nereus
In Greek mythology, Nereus ( ; ) was the eldest son of Pontus (the Sea) and Gaia ( the Earth), with Pontus himself being a son of Gaia. Nereus and Doris became the parents of 50 daughters (the Nereids) and a son ( Nerites), with whom Nereus lived in the Aegean Sea. Name The name Nereus is absent from Homer's epics; the god's name in the Iliad is the descriptive , and in the Odyssey the combination of and .; ; Besides Nereus and Proteus, the descriptive "Old Man of the Sea" was used for other water deities in Greek mythology who share several traits, among them Phorcys, Glaucus, and perhaps Triton. It is suggested that the "Old Man of the Sea" had at one time played a cosmogonic role comparable to that of Oceanus and could have received different names in different places. It is not known whether the name Nereus was known to Homer or not, but the name of the Nereids is attested before it and can be found in the Iliad. Since Nereus only has relevance as the father o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Old Man Of The Sea
In Greek mythology, the Old Man of the Sea (; ) was a figure who could be identified as any of several water-gods, generally Nereus or Proteus, but also Triton, Pontus, Phorcys or Glaucus. He is the father of Thetis (the mother of Achilles). Mythology In book 4 of Homer's ''Odyssey'', Menelaus recounts to Telemachus his journey home, and how he is obliged to seek the advice of the Old Man of the Sea. The Old Man will answer truthfully any questions put to him when captured. Capturing him, however, entails holding on to him as he changes bewilderingly from one form to another in his attempts to break free from his interrogator. The dogged Menelaus succeeds in hanging on to the slippery god throughout all his transformations and, in the course of the following interrogation, is able to obtain an answer to his question as to whether Telemachus's father Odysseus is still alive. Sinbad Sinbad the Sailor encountered the monstrous Old Man of the Sea () on his fifth voyage. The Ol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Torone (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Torone () of Phlegra, also called Chrysonoe (Χρυσονόη), was a Sithonian princess as the daughter of King Cleitus and Pallene. Family Torone was the wife of Proteus and mother of Telegonus and Polygonus ( Tmolus). Mythology Chrysonoe was given in marriage to Proteus by her father Cleitus after the Egyptian foreigner came to Thrace and became his friend. Chrysonoe's sons had the habit of guest-slaying which forced Proteus to pray for his father Poseidon to carry him back to Egypt away from them. Torone's sons were ultimately killed by Heracles when they challenged the hero to wrestle them. The city of Torone in Sithonia was named after her.Stephanus of Byzantium, s.v. Torōnē' Notes References * Apollodorus, ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4Online version at the Perseus Digit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phoenice (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Phoenice () may refer to three distinct characters: * Phoenice, an Attican princess as the daughter of the autochthonous King Actaion and sister to Aglauros, Erse and Pandrosos. According to the Suda, the ancient Greek historian Scamon of Mytilene claimed that her father named the Phoenician letters in her honor after she died a virgin. * Phoenice, mother by Poseidon of Torone, wife of ProteusStephanus of Byzantium, s.v. Torōnē' but more likely she bore Proteus to the sea-god. No parentage was attributed to Phoenice but she was probably a daughter or a descendant of Phoenix, eponym of Phoenicia. * Phoenice, a dear companion of Artemis who was seduced (or raped) by Zeus. When she found out, Artemis turned her into a bear, and then later fixed her among the stars as the constellation Ursa Minor.Hyginus, ''De astronomia'2.2.3/ref> Notes References * * Stephanus of Byzantium, ''Stephani Byzantii Ethnicorum quae supersunt,'' edited by August Meineike ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Triton (mythology)
Triton (; ) is a Greek mythology, Greek god of the sea, the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Triton lived with his parents in a golden palace on the bottom of the sea. Later he is often depicted as having a conch shell he would blow like a trumpet. Triton is usually represented as a merman, with the upper body of a human and the tailed lower body of a fish. At some time during the Greek and Roman era, Triton(s) became a generic term for a merman (mermen) in art and literature. In English literature, Triton is portrayed as the messenger or herald for the god Poseidon. Triton of Lake Tritonis of ancient Libya is a namesake mythical figure that appeared and aided the Argonauts. Moreover, according to Apollonius Rhodius, he married the Oceanids, Oceanid of the said region, Libya (Greek myth), Libya. Sea god Triton was the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite according to Hesiod's ''Theogony''. He was the ruler (possessor) of the depths of the sea, who is either "dreadful" or "mighty" () ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polygonus (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Polygonus (Ancient Greek: Πολύγονος means 'prolific') was the Thracian son of the sea god Proteus by Torone ( Chrysonoe) of Phlegra. He was the brother of Telegonus. Polygonus was also called Tmolus in some accounts. Mythology Due to Polygonus' and Telegonus' "stranger-slaying wrestling", Proteus prayed to his father Poseidon to carry him back to Egypt away from them. Under the command of Hera, the brothers challenged the hero Heracles to wrestle but lost their lives in the battle.Tzetzes, ''Chiliades'' 2.320 Notes References * Apollodorus, ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tmolus (father Of Tantalus)
In Greek mythology, Tmolus (; , ''Tmōlos'') may refer to the following figures: * Tmolus, a king of Lydia, and the husband of Omphale to whom he bequeathed his kingdom. * Tmolus, the god of Mount Tmolus in Lydia, who was the judge of a musical contest between the gods Apollo and Pan (or the satyr Marsyas). When Tmolus awarded the victory to Apollo, Midas the king of Phrygia disagreed, Apollo transformed Midas' ears into the ears of an ass. * Tmolus, the father of Tantalus by Pluto. However the father of Tantalus (by Pluto) was usually said to be Zeus. * Tmolus, a son of Proteus, who along with his brother Telegonus was killed by Heracles. However according to the mythographer Apollodorus, the two sons of Proteus killed by Heracles were named Telegonus and Polygonus. * Tmolus, a son of Ares and Theogone, was a king of Lydia. While hunting on a mountain, Tmolus raped a companion of Artemis, who then hung herself. Angry, Artemis caused Tmolus to be killed by a raging bull. Theoc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sea God
A water deity is a deity in mythology associated with water or various bodies of water. Water deities are common in mythology and were usually more important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great river was more important. Another important focus of worship of water deities has been springs or holy wells. As a form of animal worship, whales and snakes (hence dragons) have been regarded as godly deities throughout the world (as are other animals such as turtles, fish, crabs, and sharks). In Asian lore, whales and dragons sometimes have connections. Serpents are also common as a symbol or as serpentine deities, sharing many similarities with dragons. Africa Akan * Bosompo, primordial embodiment of the oceans * Abena Mansa, sea goddess associated with gold * Ashiakle, goddess of the treasures at the bottom of the ocean *Tano (Ta Kora), god of the Tano river *Bia, god of the Bia river *Birim, goddess of the Birim river *Bosomtwe, antelope god of the Boso ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Telegonus
Telegonus (; Ancient Greek: Τηλέγονος means "born afar") is the name shared by three different characters in Greek mythology. * Telegonus, a king of Egypt who was sometimes said to have married the nymph Io. * Telegonus, a Thracian son of Proteus by Torone ( Chrysonoe) of Phlegra, daughter of King Cleitus of Sithones. He was the brother of Polygonus ( Tmolus). Because of Telegonus' and his brother's great violence towards strangers, Proteus prayed to their grandsire Poseidon to carry him back to Egypt. They met their demise when they challenged Heracles to wrestle at the behest of Hera but lost their life in the battle. * Telegonus, the youngest son of Circe and Odysseus.Apollodorus, Epitomebr>7.16/ref> Notes References * Apollodorus, ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phorcys
In Greek mythology, Phorcys or Phorcus (; ) is a primordial sea god, generally cited (first in Hesiod) as the son of Pontus and Gaia (Earth). Classical scholar Karl Kerenyi conflated Phorcys with the similar sea gods Nereus and Proteus. His wife was Ceto, and he is most notable in myth for fathering by Ceto a host of monstrous children. In extant Hellenistic-Roman mosaics, Phorcys was depicted as a fish-tailed merman with crab-claw legs and red, spiky skin. According to Servius, commentator on the Aeneid, who reports a very ancient version already reflected in Varro, distinct from the Greek vulgate: Phorcos was once king of Sardinia and Corsica; annihilated in a naval battle in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and then shot down by King Atlas with a large part of his army, his companions imagined him transformed into a marine deity, perhaps a monster, half man and half sea ram. Parents According to Hesiod's ''Theogony'', Phorcys is the son of Pontus and Gaia, and the brother of Nereus, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Poseidon
Poseidon (; ) is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cities and colonies. In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, Poseidon was venerated as a chief deity at Pylos and Thebes, with the cult title "earth shaker"; in the myths of isolated Arcadia, he is related to Demeter and Persephone and was venerated as a horse, and as a god of the waters.Seneca quaest. Nat. VI 6 :Nilsson Vol I p.450 Poseidon maintained both associations among most Greeks: he was regarded as the tamer or father of horses, who, with a strike of his trident, created springs (the terms for horses and springs are related in the Greek language).Nilsson Vol I p.450 His Roman equivalent is Neptune. Homer and Hesiod suggest that Poseidon became lord of the sea when, following the overthrow of his father Cronus, the world was divided ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phoenix (son Of Agenor)
In Greek mythology, Phoenix or Phoinix (Ancient Greek: Φοῖνιξ ''Phoinix'', ''gen''.: Φοίνικος means "sun-red") was the eponym of Phoenicia who together with his brothers were tasked to find their abducted sister Europa. Family Phoenix was a son of King Agenor of Tyre by either Telephassa, Apollodorus3.1.1 Moschus, ''Europa'37 ff./ref> Argiope, Antiope, Tzetzes, ''Chiliades'7.165–166/ref> Damno or Tyro.Malalas2.30/ref> He was the brother of Europa, Cadmus, Cilix, Syros, Isaia and Melia.Gantzp. 208 Pherecydes fr. 21 Fowler 2000, p. 289 = ''FGrHist'' 3 F 21 = Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, 3.1177-87f In some accounts, Phoenix's father was called King Belus of Egypt and sibling to Agenor, Phineus, Aegyptus, Danaus and Ninus. In the latter's version of the myth, Phoenix' mother could be identified as Achiroe, naiad daughter of the river-god Nilus. Phoenix was believed to have fathered a number of children with different women. By Cassiopeia, Phoe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
