Wednesday, January 16, 2002

Amphitrite (Greek)

Amphitrite

In Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea goddess. Sources state that she was the daughter of Nereus and Doris, which makes Amphitrite one of the fifty sea goddesses (or nymphs) who are known collectively as the Nereids. The Greek poet Hesiod lists the names of these sea nymphs in his Theogony:

"To Nereus and Doris of the lovely hair,
the daughter of Okeanos, the stream surrounding the earth,
a host of godly daughters was born in the barren sea:
Proto, Eukrante, Amphitrite, and Sao..."
(Hesiod, Theogony, 240-43)

According to the legend, the Olympian Poseidon (who was himself a god of the sea) saw Amphitrite one day and fell in love with the graceful and beautiful goddess. However, the sea nymph initially resisted Poseidon's advances. But Poseidon was not easily discouraged. He sent his sea creatures to find Amphitrite. A dolphin succeeded in locating the Nereid, and it was this creature - the dolphin - who persuaded her to consider Poseidon's proposal. Eventually, Amphitrite accepted Poseidon, and the two gods were married.

Amphitrite and Poseidon were together the parents of several children, including the sea god Triton.