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who is pontus in greek mythology

by Dr. Johnathan Haag MD Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Pontus (mythology)

  • Mythology. For Hesiod, Pontus seems little more than a personification of the sea, ho pontos ("the sea") by which Hellenes signified the Mediterranean Sea. ...
  • Family tree. She [Gaia] bore also the fruitless deep with his raging swell, Pontus, without sweet union of love.
  • References. ...

Póntos, lit. "Sea") was an ancient, pre-Olympian sea-god, one of the Greek primordial deities. Pontus was Gaia's son and has no father; according to the Greek poet Hesiod
Hesiod
Hesiod's Theogony is a large-scale synthesis of a vast variety of local Greek traditions concerning the gods, organized as a narrative that tells how they came to be and how they established permanent control over the cosmos. It is the first known Greek mythical cosmogony.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Theogony
, he was born without coupling, though according to Hyginus, Pontus is the son of Aether and Gaia. Pontus. Member of the Primordial Gods and Sea Gods.

Full Answer

What is the role of Pontus in Greek mythology?

In Greek mythology, Pontus is not much more than the personification of the sea—there are no known myths about him. His role is primarily cosmogonic and genealogical: in other words, Pontus represents one of the primordial gods and is himself the father of other gods.

Who is the father of Pontus the sea?

"Sea") was an ancient, pre-Olympian sea-god, one of the Greek primordial deities. Pontus was Gaia 's son and has no father; according to the Greek poet Hesiod, he was born without coupling, though according to Hyginus, Pontus is the son of Aether and Gaia.

Why is Pontus called the old man?

"And Pontos (Pontus, Sea) begat Nereus, the eldest of his children, who is true and lies not : and men call him the Old Man because he is trusty and gentle and does not forget the laws of righteousness, but thinks just and kindly thoughts.

What did Pontus look like?

Pontus is often depicted in art as a strong and powerful middle-aged man. His face is bearded, and he has two crab-claw horns atop his head. Gaea was the mother and consort of Pontus. There are two main theories of Pontus's creation. According to Hesiod, he sprang from Gaea (Gaia), goddess of the earth, and did not have a father.

Is Pontus the same as Poseidon?

Most people connect Poseidon to the sea, but he came much later, in the third generation of gods. Pontus was the primordial, or earliest, god of the sea. He was considered a personification of the sea itself, particularly the Mediterranean Sea due to its importance to ancient civilizations.

Is Pontus a god or a Titan?

Pontus was one of the Greek primordial deities that ruled on the earth before the arrival of the Olympians. His name meaning sea, he was a sea god, son of Gaea alone. He and Gaea had five children, Nereus, "the old man of the sea"; Thaumas, "the wonder of the sea"; Phorcys; Ceto; and Eurybia.

Who were Gaea and Pontus children?

"The children of Pontos (Pontus) and Ge (Gaea) were Phorkos (Phorcus), Thaumas, Nereus, Eurybia, and Keto (Ceto)."

What does the word Pontus mean?

A god of the seaProper noun Pontus. (Greek mythology) A god of the sea. the present-day region covering the eastern half of the southern coast of the Black Sea. (historical) An ancient region and kingdom on the south coast of the Black Sea.

What is Pontus called today?

Pontus or Pontos (/ˈpɒntəs/; Greek: Πόντος, romanized: Póntos, "Sea") is a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in the modern-day eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.

Is Pontus and Oceanus the same?

DESCRIPTION. The head of Oceanus or Pontus, personification of the sea, rises from the water. The god has a beard of ocean waves, sea-weed hair, and four pairs of lobster-claw and antennae "horns". Two winged Erotes (Roman Cupids) ride on the backs of fish below him.

Who were Gaia's two husbands?

GaiaSiblingsNone (Hesiod)ConsortUranus, Pontus, Aether and TartarusOffspringUranus, Pontus, the Ourea, the Hecatonchires, the Cyclopes, the Titans, the Gigantes, Nereus, Thaumus, Phorcys, Ceto, Eurybia, Aergia, Typhon, Python, and AntaeusRoman equivalentTerra6 more rows

Who is Gaia's husband?

UranusAccording to Hesiod, Uranus was the son and husband of Gaia (Earth), with whom he fathered the first generation of Titans.

Who was the ugliest god?

HephaestusHephaestus. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly.

What is the Roman name for Pontus?

In Greek mythology, Pontus (/ˈpɒntəs/; Greek: Πόντος, translit. Póntos, lit. "Sea") was an ancient, pre-Olympian sea-god, one of the Greek primordial deities....Pontus (mythology)PontusOffspringNereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, Eurybia7 more rows

How do you pronounce Pontus in the Bible?

0:051:00How To Say Pontus - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipConchos 8 conchos anchos conchos anchos.MoreConchos 8 conchos anchos conchos anchos.

Why was this name given to the Pontus Euxinus?

The title of the map, Pontus Euxinus, is Latin for “hospitable sea,” a euphemism for the earlier name “inhospitable sea,” as the Black Sea was known for its stormy weather, harsh currents, and lack of islands to visit.

Who was Pontus in Greek mythology?

Who was Pontus? Pontus was one of the Greek primordial deities that ruled on the earth before the arrival of the Olympians. His name meaning sea, he was a sea god, son of Gaea alone.

Who was the Greek god of the sea?

Pontus. Pontus was one of the Greek primordial deities that ruled on the earth before the arrival of the Olympians. His name meaning sea, he was a sea god, son of Gaea alone.

Who is Pontus the god of?

According to Hyginus in Fabulae, however, Pontus was the offspring of Gaea and Aether (Aither), god of light.

Who is the monster that Pontus had?

The infamous monster Medusa was also a grandchild of Pontus.

What is Pontus' face?

Pontus is often depicted in art as a strong and powerful middle-aged man. His face is bearded, and he has two crab-claw horns atop his head.

Why is Nereus called the Old Man of the Sea?

He is also the deity referred to as the Old Man of the Sea. He earned the title partly because of his truthful and virtuous nature. Nereus, with Doris, a sea nymph, produced the fifty Nereids, or water nymphs.

Who were the Protogenoi gods?

Protogenoi Gods. The Protogenoi gods in Greek mythology were the first generation of deities. These gods gave rise to the Titan gods, who then gave rise to the Olympians, including Zeus. In Hesiod's Theogony, he listed eleven Protogenoi gods who represented the elements of the universe, such as Air, Earth, Sky, and Sea.

Who is the father of all fish and sea life?

Pontus is considered the father of all fish and sea life, which sprang from his union with the primordial sea goddess Thalassa. She was the daughter of Aether which, based on Hyginus's version of Pontus 's birth, would make her his sister.

Who is the goddess of the sea?

Thalassa was the goddess of the sea and created all sea life with Pontus. Most mythical characters pertaining to the sea began with the union of Pontus and Gaea. Yes, that's right. Pontus and his mother had children. They are Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, and Eurybia.

Who is Uranus' father?

According to Hesiod's Theogony, Uranus was conceived by Gaia alone, but other sources cite Aether as his father.

Who were the first gods and goddesses born from the void of chaos?

In Greek mythology, the primordial deities, are the first gods and goddesses born from the void of Chaos. Hesiod's first (after Chaos) are Gaia, Tartarus, Eros, Erebus, Hemera and Nyx. The primordial deities Gaia and Uranus give birth to the Titans, and the Cyclopes.

What is Pontus' role in the Greeks?

Primarily, the Ancient Greeks considered Pontus to be the personification of the Mediterranean Sea, and the god’s named can be translated asthe road”, an indication of the importance of the Mediterranean as a highway for goods, as well as a provider of food. The role though would pass onto Poseidon with the rise of the Olympian gods, ...

Why is Pontus important?

Despite being sidelined, Pontus is still important in Greek mythology because of his family line. With Gaia, Pontus would become father, and subsequently grandfather, to most characters form Greek mythology associated with the sea. Nereus - The first born son of Pontus and Gaia was Nereus, the god referred to as the Old Man of the Sea.

Who are Pontus' brother and sister?

Phorcys and Ceto – Brother and sister offspring of Pontus would become husband and wife, and as Ceto’s name means “monster” it is not surprising that the pair would become parents to many of the monsters of the deep, including the likes of the Gorgons, the Graeae and the Sirens.

Who was the first son of Pontus and Gaia?

Nereus - The first born son of Pontus and Gaia was Nereus, the god referred to as the Old Man of the Sea. Nereus was associated with the Aegean Sea within the Mediterranean, and was of course father to the Nereids, the water nymphs.

Who is the Greek god of sea storms?

Aegaeus was the Greek god of sea storms, and it was after this deity that the Aegean Sea was named. The Telchines - Pontus was also considered by some to be the father of the four Telchines, minor sea gods associated with the island of Rhodes who were famed for their metalworking skill.

Who is the sea god in Greek mythology?

THE SEA GOD PONTUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. T oday, most people think of Poseidon as the sea-god of Greek mythology, but Poseidon was actually just one of many sea-gods, and a relatively late comer to the pantheon of Greek deities.

Who is the goddess of the sea?

Eurybia – the “strong goddess” was always regarded as a minor sea deity, but was famous in Greek mythology for being the wife of Crius, and subsequently giving birth to Astraeus, Pallas and Perses.

What state was Pontus born in?

Pontus was born in the void state of Chaos, at a time before anything ever existed. In Chaos, there was nothing at all; though, Chaos can also refer to everything in the space created when the heaven and earth split and became two separate places.

What did Pontus and Thalassa spawn?

Pontus was also paired with Thalassa, an ancient goddess of the sea, and together they spawned all sea life, from starfish to seahorses to the different species of sharks. The two also gave birth to the Telchines, who lived on the Greek island of Rhodes.

Who was born from the sea?

He was the sea itself, and according to the Greek poet Hesiod, Pontus was born from Mother Earth, Gaea, and had no father. Pontus, or Pontos (a different spelling of his name), translates to “sea”.

Who were the Gorgons?

Phorcys and Ceto also gave birth to the Gorgons; they were Stheno, Euryale, and the most famous of the three, Medusa, a winged monster with venomous snakes for hair . The last child of Pontus and Gaea was Eurybia, a minor goddess (also known as the “Strong Goddess) who represented having power and mastery over the seas.

Learn about this topic in these articles

He is distinguished from Pontus, the personification of the sea and the oldest Greek divinity of the waters. The name Poseidon means either “husband of the earth” or “lord of the earth.” Traditionally, he was a son of Cronus (the youngest of the 12 Titans) and of Cronus’s sister…

comparison with Poseidon

He is distinguished from Pontus, the personification of the sea and the oldest Greek divinity of the waters. The name Poseidon means either “husband of the earth” or “lord of the earth.” Traditionally, he was a son of Cronus (the youngest of the 12 Titans) and of Cronus’s sister…

What is Pontus' name?

He became one of the weaker or less significant gods when the Olympian gods came to power. Pontus name means “the road” and is associated with the Mediterranean since that was the Greek trade route.

Who is Pontus' brother?

In ancient artwork, Pontus wears a crown and is portrayed with Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune. Pontus lost his power as the sea lord when it was taken over by his brother Oceanus, then Poseidon. Source: Wikipedia – Pontus. Categorized in: Greek Mythology. This post was written by GreekBoston.com.

What powers did Pontus have?

He had the power to manipulate and regenerate the sea and create aquatic life. The abilities that Pontus had were telekinesis and teleportation. Ancient Greek and Roman mosaic artwork depict Pontus as rising from the sea, having an enormous head, a flowing, gray beard, and horns of crab claws.

What is Thaumas associated with?

Thaumas associated with dangers and wonders of the sea. The Telchines, the minor gods associated with Rhodes, said to be the offspring of Pontus. Pontus gained notoriety as the father of fish and all sea life. His partner was Thalassa, was the primeval spirit of the sea, and the daughter of Hemera and Aether.

Who was the patriarch of the family that produced the mythological characters associated with Greek mythology and the sea?

Although the power held by Pontus was diminished when the Olympian gods rose in power. Pontus became the patriarch of the family that produced the mythological characters associated with Greek mythology and the sea. Children of Pontus:

Who was the Titan god?

In Greek mythology, the Titan gods were the precursors of the Olympian gods that included Poseidon. Pontus was the personification of the Mediterranean Sea and considered to be the most powerful of the sea gods. He became one of the weaker or less significant gods when the Olympian gods came to power. Pontus name means “the road” and is associated ...

Who is the third generation god?

Pontus, a third-generation god, was one of the primordial sea gods and one of the twelve immortals who ruled the Greek Pantheon and he predated Poseidon. Here’s more information:

What is the meaning of the word "Pontos"?

Latin Spelling. Pontus. Translation. Sea ( pontos) Pontus the Sea, Greco-Roman mosaic, Bardo Museum. PONTOS (Pontus) was the primordial god ( protogenos) of the sea. He was the sea itself, not merely its resident deity, who was born from earth at the dawn of creation. Pontos and Gaia (Gaea, the Earth) were parents ...

What is Pontos' head?

In Greco-Roman mosaics Pontos is depicted as a giant head with a watery-gray beard and crab-claw horns rising from the sea. However, in most mosaic art, Okeanos (Oceanus) supercedes him as the sea personified.

Who is the father of Nereus?

PONTUS (Pontos), a personification of the sea, is described in the ancient cosmogony as a son of Gaea, and as the father of Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, and Eurybia, by his own mother. (Hes. Theog. 132, 233, &c.; Apollod. i.

Who were the parents of the Old Men of the Sea?

Pontos and Gaia (Gaea, the Earth) were parents of the ancient deities known as the Old Men of the Sea. By Thalassa, his watery female counterpart, he was the father of fish and other sea creatures. Poseidon, king of the sea, wed Pontos' eldest granddaughter Amphitrite. In Greco-Roman mosaics Pontos is depicted as a giant head with ...

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