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Ancient Greek Sea Gods. This table illustrates the abundant gods that ruled over the sea, in their many, varied capacities. From major gods that play a central role in lore any myth, to the minor gods, nymphs and muses. As you can see, there are lots of them!
From the deadly Scylla and Charybdis, to the beautiful but dangerous Sirens, to the many-headed Hydra and the giant sea monster Cetus, these mythical creatures struck fear into the hearts of sailors and adventurers who braved the treacherous waters of the ancient world.
- The Sirens
- Scylla and Charybdis
- The Cetus
- The Kraken
- The Hydra
- Circe
- Calypso
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Half-birds, half beautiful maidens, the Sirenswere singing enchantresses capable of luring passing sailors to their islands, and, subsequently, to their doom. The Sirens were creatures that sang beautifully, luring those passing by to their deaths. Each Siren combined the appearance of a woman and a bird, with the exact appearance varying depending...
These two mythical creatures were considered some of the most dangerous beings in Greek mythology. Scylla was a six-headed sea monster that lived inside a cave on one side of a narrow waterway. Charybdiswas a giant whirlpool that would form on the other side of the waterway, sucking anything nearby into its depths. One of Scylla’s most popular stor...
The Cetus was a giant sea monster that was sent by Poseidon to ravage the city of Aethiopia. In order to placate the beast, the king and queen of Aethiopia sacrificed their daughter, Andromeda, to it. She was chained to a rock on the shore as a sacrifice, but was saved at the last minute by the hero Perseus.
This mythical sea creature is a giant squid-like beast that drags ships and sailors to their watery graves. It’s said to be so large that its body could create a whirlpool when it dives deep beneath the waves. Although the Krakenis most popular in Scandinavian folklore, its legend has spread to other cultures as well. In some depictions, the Kraken...
The Hydra was a multi-headed serpentine creature that was said to inhabit the marshes of Lernain Greece. It had nine heads, one of which was immortal. If one of its heads was cut off, two more would grow back in its place. The Hydra’s story is most famously told in Hercules’ Second Labor. As part of his Twelve Labors, Herculeswas tasked with slayin...
Circewas a sorceress who lived on an island in the Aegean Sea. She was known for her ability to transform people into animals, and would often do so to sailors who landed on her island. Circe’s most famous story is told in Homer’s “Odyssey.” The hero Odysseus and his crew land on her island, and she turns them into pigs. However, Odysseus is able t...
Calypsowas a nymph who lived on an island in the middle of the ocean. She fell in love with the hero Odysseus and kept him captive on her island for seven years. Although she treated him well, Calypso eventually released Odysseus so that he could return home to his wife, Penelope. However, she gave him a raft and supplies to help him on his journey...
If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. Link will appear as Mythical Sea Creatures: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net- Greek Gods & Goddesses, October 26, 2022
Nov 10, 2023 · In this article, we will take a look at some of the most famous sea monsters that feature in the tales of Ancient Greek heroes and explorers. Scylla and Charybdis Illustration of Scylla meeting the sea god Glaucus, by Antonio Tempesta.
- Cetus. In the myth of Perseus and Andromeda, Perseus was on his way home from beheaded the Gorgon monster, Medusa, when he saw a beautiful woman chained to a rock and facing imminent death from being eaten by Cetus.
- Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla was a six-headed sea monster who lived under a rock in the straits of Messina. Charybdis was the whirlpool that would devour the ships of sailors who may have escaped the wrath of Scylla during their journey.
- The Sirens. Not all sea monsters are ugly, and not all sea monsters look threatening. This is what makes the Sirens so dangerous. Sailors would be lured by the beautiful looks and singing voices to cause sailors to wreck their ships along the rocky coast of the Sirens.
- Kraken. In Norse mythology, the Kraken is a giant Octopus that brings terror upon those sailors who sail in the waters where it lives. The Kraken would wrap its large tentacles around the ships and pull the ships to the bottom of the sea, devouring them along the way.
CETEA (Ketea) The monsters of the sea's depths. One, sent by Poseidon to ravage Troy, was slain by Heracles, another sent to punish the Ethiopians which was destroyed by Perseus. CETO (Keto) An ancient sea-goddess. She was the goddess of the monsters and dangers of the deep. Her name means "whale" or "sea-monster."
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Mar 15, 2021 · The cetea were servants of the sea-gods, particularly Poseidon. They seemed to be friendly and gentle with the gods and nymphs of the sea, but could be menacing monsters as well. In the Iliad, for example, Homer says that the cetea came up from the depths to play in the path of Poseidon’s chariot.
