Oceanus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oceanus
Member of the Titans
Oceanus in the Trevi Fountain, Rome
Other names	Ogen or Ogenus
Personal information
Consort	Tethys
Offspring	Many river gods including: Achelous, Alpheus, and Scamander Many Oceanids including: Callirhoe, Clymene, Eurynome, Doris, Idyia, Metis, Perseis, Styx, and Theia
Parents	Uranus and Gaia
Siblings	Titans Crius Cronus Coeus Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Phoebe Rhea Tethys Theia Themis Hecatoncheires Briareus Cottus Gyges Cyclopes Arges Brontes Steropes Other siblings Gigantes Erinyes (the Furies) Meliae Half-siblings Aphrodite Eurybia Ceto Nereus Phorcys Pontus Python Thaumas Typhon Uranus

In Greek mythology, Oceanus was a powerful Titan god. He was the son of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth). Oceanus was married to his sister, the Titan Tethys. Together, they were the parents of many river gods and Oceanids. Oceanus was also seen as the great river that circled the entire world.

Oceanus's Family Tree

Oceanus was the oldest of the Titans born to Uranus and Gaia. His Titan siblings included Cronus, Rhea, Hyperion, and his wife Tethys.

Oceanus and Tethys had many children. They were the parents of thousands of river gods. Some famous river gods include:

• Achelous: God of the largest river in Greece. He fought Heracles in a wrestling match.
• Alpheus: He fell in love with the nymph Arethusa.
• Scamander: He fought alongside the Trojans in the Trojan War.

They also had thousands of daughters called Oceanids. Some well-known Oceanids are:

• Metis: She was Zeus' first wife and mother of Athena.
• Eurynome: She was Zeus' third wife and mother of the Charites (Graces).
• Doris: She was the wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids (sea nymphs).
• Styx: She was the goddess of the underworld river. She was also the mother of Nike (Victory).

Oceanus as the First Parent?

Mosaic depicting Oceanus and Tethys, Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Gaziantep

Some ancient Greek writers, like Homer, hinted that Oceanus and Tethys might have been the very first parents of all the gods. This is different from what Hesiod wrote, who said Uranus and Gaia were the first.

For example, in the Iliad, the goddess Hera calls Oceanus the one "from whom the gods are sprung." This suggests that some people believed Oceanus and Tethys were the original divine couple. Later, Plato tried to combine these ideas. He suggested that Uranus and Gaia were the parents of Oceanus and Tethys. Then, Oceanus and Tethys became the parents of Cronus and Rhea, and the other Titans.

Oceanus in Myths

Oceanus-faced gargoyle, originally from Treuchtlingen, Bavaria, now at the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich

When Cronus overthrew his father Uranus, most Titans helped Cronus. However, Oceanus did not join them in this attack. He stayed out of the fight.

Oceanus also did not take part in the Titanomachy. This was the huge war between Cronus and the Titans against Zeus and the Olympians. After Zeus won, Cronus and the other Titans were imprisoned. But Oceanus remained free. In fact, Oceanus sent his daughter Styx and her children to fight on Zeus' side. These children included Nike (Victory) and Kratos (Power).

In one play, Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, Oceanus visits his nephew Prometheus. Prometheus was chained up and punished by Zeus for stealing fire. Oceanus arrived on a winged horse. He told Prometheus he felt sorry for him and wanted to help. But Prometheus told Oceanus to be careful and not get into trouble with Zeus.

There's also a story where Heracles was traveling in Helios's golden cup. Oceanus tried to challenge Heracles by sending big waves. But Heracles threatened to shoot Oceanus with his bow, and Oceanus quickly stopped.

Oceanus as a Place

River Divinity, second century AD, Farnese collection, Naples National Archaeological Museum

While Oceanus was a god, he was also often seen as a place. He was the great river that circled the entire world. Both Hesiod and Homer described Oceanus as a "perfect river" that flowed back into itself. They said it was "deep-swirling" or "deep-flowing."

Oceanus was believed to be at the very edges of the earth. It was near places like Tartarus or Elysium. To reach the underworld, you had to cross Oceanus. This river marked a boundary where the world became more magical and mysterious. Beyond Oceanus lived amazing creatures like the Hesperides and the snake-haired Gorgons. Exotic tribes like the Cimmerians also lived near Oceanus.

The sun god Helios was said to rise from Oceanus in the east. At the end of the day, he would sink back into Oceanus in the west. Even the stars were believed to bathe in the "stream of Ocean."

Oceanus was considered the source of all water. This included all rivers, seas, springs, and deep wells. It was thought to be a freshwater river, different from the salty sea. However, sometimes the distinction between fresh and salt water wasn't clear.

Over time, as people learned more about geography, the idea of Oceanus changed. It came to represent the unknown waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, Poseidon, a younger god, ruled over the Mediterranean Sea.

How Oceanus Was Shown

Detail of Oceanus attending the wedding of Peleus and Thetis on an Attican black-figure dinos by Sophilos, c. 600–550 BC, British Museum 971.11–1.1.

In ancient art, Oceanus was often shown in specific ways.

• On old Greek vases, like the "Erskine" dinos, Oceanus appeared at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. He was shown with bull horns. He held a snake in one hand and a fish in the other. His lower body was like a fish.
• On the François Vase, another ancient pot, Oceanus was also at this wedding. He was shown with a bull's head.
• On the Pergamon Altar, Oceanus is depicted fighting the Giants. He is shown as a muscular man.
• In later Roman art, especially mosaics, Oceanus often had the upper body of a strong man with a long beard and horns. These horns sometimes looked like crab claws. His lower body was often like a snake. He might also be shown holding a steering oar or cradling a ship.

Left to right: Nereus, Doris, a Giant (kneeling), Oceanus, detail from the Pergamon Altar Gigantomachy.

Oceanus in Maps

Head of Oceanus from Tivoli's second century Hadrian's Villa, Vatican Museum

Ancient Greek mapmakers also included Oceanus in their maps. They showed it as the great river circling the earth, just like it was shown on Achilles' shield.

However, some ancient writers, like Herodotus, were not sure if Oceanus really existed as a river. Herodotus thought that Homer or other poets might have just made up the name for their stories.

Over time, as people explored more, they learned about different oceans. The Atlantic Ocean was often simply called "the Ocean." The Black Sea was also sometimes called Oceanus, especially in stories about faraway lands.

See also

In Spanish: Océano (mitología) para niños

• NOAAS Okeanos Explorer (R 337)
• Ogyges
• Rasā