Tethys, goddess of fresh water

Tethys was a Titan goddess of all the fresh water on earth. She was one of six daughters of Uranus and Gaea. She appropriately married Oceanus (personification of all the salt water on earth) and, according to Hesiod, they gave birth to three thousand Potamoi or river gods and Oceanids, known as nymphs of seas, rivers, lakes, streams, fountains, and marshes. She was also believed to be nursing and feeding her children by drawing water from Oceanus through subterranean channels and also taking care of all creatures living in the waters such as fish, seals and dolphins.

During the war between the Titans and younger Olympian gods Tethys was believed to have been raising Hera as her step-child. According to Claudian she is also said to have been taking care of Helios and Selene. In art she is often depicted with a small pair of wings just above her eyebrows which probably represents her not only being a mother of rivers, streams and other supplies of fresh water but also as a mother of Nephelai (rain-clouds) and Aurai (breeze) who are associated with Sky deities.

Myths of Tethys, her children and the deception of Zeus

The following grouped sections are available:

• Deception of Zeus
• Her children, Oceanids and Potamoi

Deception of Zeus

Tethys is not directly involved in this myth but is just used as an excuse by Hera. She appeared in the Homer's epic of Trojan war where Hera deceived Zeus in order for other gods to become involved in the battlefield, despite the direct order of Zeus not to intervene. Hera lied to Zeus by telling him that she was going to visit Tethys and Oceanus. Instead she went to Aphrodite who helped her to beauty herself and prepare a seduction plan. Hera then seduced Zeus and made love with him until exhaustion which gave a window of opportunity for other gods to interfere in the battlefield and consequently for the Greeks to regain an upper hand in the war.

Her children, Oceanids and Potamoi

As mentioned above Tethys was a mother of three thousand Potamoi or river gods and three thousand Oceanids or water nymphs. Here is a list of the most known Oceanids and Potamoi.

Sources

To learn more, you may explore the sources and notes about Tethys yourself