Bible Encyclopedias
Oceanides and Oceanitides

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Oceanica

Next Entry
Oceanus

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

sea nymphs, daughters of Oceanus, from whom they received their name, and of the goddess Tethys, numbered 3000 according to Apollodorus, who mentions the names of seven of them: Asia, Styx, Electra, Doris, Eurynome. Amphitrite, and Metis. Hesiod speaks of the eldest of them, and reckons forty-one: Pitho, Admete, Prynno, Ianthe, Rhodia, Hippo, Callirrhoe, Urania, Clymene, Idyia, Pasithoe, Clythia, Zeuxo, Galuxaure, Plexaure, Perseis, Pluto, Thoe, Polydora, Melobosis, Dione, Cerceis, Xantha, Acasta, lanira, Telestho, Europa, Menestho, Petrea, Eudora, Calypso, Tyche, Ocyroe, Crisia, Amphiro, with those mentioned by Apollodorus, except Amphitrite. Hyginus mentious sixteen, whose names are almost all different from those of Apollodorus and Hesiod, which difference proceeds from the mutilation of the original text. The Oceanides, as the rest of the inferior deities, were honored with libations and sacrifices. Prayers were offered to them, and they were entreated to protect sailors from storms and dangerous tempests. The Argonauts, before they proceeded on their expedition, made an offering of flour, honey, and oil on the sea-shore to all the deities of the sea, and sacrificed bulls to them, and entreated their protection. When the sacrifice was made on the sea-shore the blood of the victim was received in a vessel, but when it was in the open sea the blood was permitted to run down into the water. When the sea was calm, the sailors generally offered a lamb or a young pig, but if it was agitated by the winds and rough, a black bull was deemed the most acceptable victim (Homer, Od. iii;. Horat. Apollon.; Virg. Georg. 4:341; Hesiod, Theog. 349; Apollod. i). (See NYMPH).