Greek Water Goddess of the Sea and Leader of the Nereides
Thetis is one of the aquatic deities of Greek mythology, often known as a sea nymph or a goddess of water. She is one of the daughters of the god Nereus, also called the Nereids.
She is one of the earliest worshipped deities of the Archaic Greek period, some even believing her to be the creator of the entire universe. In the Trojan War, she gave birth to hero Achilles – the same Achilles with the wounded heel and who also stared in the ancient epic The Iliad.
A Worrying Prophecy
A prophecy was revealed that her child would become stronger than the father, which worried some of the other gods, including Zeus. To prevent this from happening, Zeus arranged for her to get married to the mortal man Peleus. They held their wedding on Mount Pelion, where the other deities came to celebrate.
Eventually, they had a new son – Achilles. Though he wasn’t a full god, Thetis tried to clean away his mortality by washing him in the river Styx, also called the river of Hades. Although it made him immortal, she was unable to dip his heels into the water while she held him. This would become his Achille’s heel.
Thetis, Achilles and the Trojan War
When the Trojan War started, Thetis tried to prevent Achilles from joining and risking his life. To do this, she disguised Achilles as a girl at the court of Lycomedes. However, when the court heard the alarm of an incoming attack, Achilles raced for his weapons. After the truth was found out, Thetis accepted fate and had commissioned new armor for her son.
During the Trojan War, she kept in touch with Achilles, often relaying messages between him and the other gods. At one time, the gods had Thetis tells her son that they were angry with him, as he did not return the body of his rival Hector after defeating him.
Achilles was eventually killed by an arrow to the heel which was shot by Paris.
In other Myths
Beyond her important role in the Trojan War and the life of her son Achilles, Thetis appears in various other myths.
Thetis and Dionysus
One lesser-known myth involves Thetis and the god Dionysus. Diomedes writes, that when Dionysus was pursued and expelled by Lycurgus of Thrace (not to be mistaken with Lycurgus the law maker in Sparta), with the aid of the Olympians, Thetis provided refuge to the young god in the depths of the sea. This act of protection is found across various sources, including the Iliad, Astronomica and Bibliothica. It reveals her nurturing side and her divine, water qualities as a guardian figure.
Relationship With Hephaestus
Other minor stories highlight the relationship between Thetis and Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and fire. Hephaestus was thrown from Olympus by Hera, due to his physical imperfection. Such a disfiguration was ‘ungodly’. An insult to the gods. When he was cast out, it was Thetis who rescued and took care of him in the sea. In gratitude, Hephaestus crafted beautiful jewellery for her.
Thetis as Leader of the Nereides
Thetis, despite her individual fame, also held a significant position as the leader of the Nereides, the fifty sea nymph daughters of Nereus and Doris. As their leader, Thetis guided her sisters in their role as protectors of sailors and the sea’s creatures. These sea nymphs were known for their their magnificent beauty and grace. Often depicted riding dolphins or other sea creatures like sea horses. They were revered by sailors who prayed to them for safe passage.
The Nereides, under Thetis, represented the benevolent aspects of the sea. They embodied its nurturing and life-giving qualities and participated in various divine affairs and interactions with mortals. You might say that they served as a bridge between the sea’s mysterious depths and the world of gods and humans.
Thetis Facts Summarized
- Thetis is a daughter of Nereus, making her a Nereid, and is often associated with the sea’s gentle and protective qualities.
- A prophecy stated that Thetis’s son would be greater than his father, leading to her marriage with the mortal Peleus and the birth of Achilles.
- Beyond her maternal role, Thetis is known for her protective actions towards many other gods and heroes.
- Thetis symbolizes the both the nurturing yet dangerous nature of the sea. Her myths convey themes of maternal sacrifice, divine intervention, and the intricate relationships between gods and mortals.
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