Oceanus

Today, I wanted to write about Oceanus, the Hellenic titan of the Atlantic Ocean, formerly called the Ocean Sea. He’s a son of Gaia and Ouranos. He’s married to Tethys, and together, they parented the Oceanids and Potamoi. Notably, Oceanus did not partake in wars like the other titans. Because of this, Zeus did not

Hulder

Today I wanted to write about the Hulder, a forest, cave, and/or lake spirit from Scandinavia. Hulder are often depicted as seductive mermaids living in cave pools who sudduce miners and lure them to their deaths. Hulder are also known as Tallemaja ‘pine tree mary’ in Sweden or the ulda to the Sámi. They are

Toyotama-hime

Today I wanted to write about Toyotama-hime, a Japanese sea goddess. She’s a daughter of Watatsumi. She was the wife of Hoori, before leaving him after catching him saying, and grandmother of Jimmu-tennō; through her son Ugayafukiaezu. After leaving Hoori she returned to leaving in the sea. She’s often compared to Oto-Hime, a mermaid like

Huldufólk

Today I wanted to write about the Huldufólk, a group of Icelandic and Faroese elfs associated with both fertility and famine. The Huldufólk have the ability to become visible/invisible at will, because of this it is considered rude to throw rocks as they may hit one of the Huldufólk. When the Huldufólk do appear to

Coventina

Today I wanted to write about Coventina, a Romano-British and Gaulish goddess of wells and springs. Coventina was mainly worshipped in Carrawburgh, where votive offerings were left by the well for her. She was mainly worshipped alongside Mithra, Minerva, and the Nymphs. Her worship remained popular until 388, when Theodosius I created anti-pagan laws. Sources:

Kelpie

Today for spooky season I wanted to write about the Kelpie/Each-Uisge, a Scottish and Irish water spirit associated with death. Kelpies are shapeshifters, often taking the form of a black horse with backwards hooves or a human, commonly a brunette woman. In some folktales, their feet stay hooves when as people. Kelpies are known to

Mermaid of Zennor

Today I wanted to write about the Mermaid of Zennor, a Cornish water spirit. The Mermaid of Zennor was a beautiful rich woman who would occasionally come to mass at The Church of Saint Senara, in Zennor Churchtown, Cornwall. She was known for her beautiful singing voice. One day a choir member named Mathey Trewella

Xiangshuishen

Today I wanted to write about the Xiangshuishen, a duo of Chinese river goddesses. The Xiangshuishen are daughters of Shangdi or Emperor Yao, and live in the Xiang River. The spots that grow on bamboo are caused by the tears that the Xiangshuishen shed. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiangshuishen?wprov=sfla1

Nixie

Today, I wanted to write the Nixie/Nøkk/Nykur/Nicker or Rheintöchter, Germanic water spirits that are often malicious towards men and children. They are often called river mermaids and are known to lead men to their deaths with beautiful songs of loneliness. Although most commonly appearing as humanoid, they are shapeshifters and are known to take the

Melusine

Today I wanted to write about Melusine, a French-German fresh water spirit. Many royal houses in Europe have claimed to be descendants of Melusine, including the house of Luxembourg, house of Anjou, house of Plantagenet, and house of Lusignan. Melusine is one of the three daughters of Pressyne and Elynas who were raised in Avalon.

Vodyanoy

Today I wanted to write about the Vodyanoy, a Czech and Slovak water spirit. The Vodyanoy appear as old men with frog faces and long hair filled with algae and skin with black scales. Vodyanoy will break dams, rearrange water routes, and possibly drown people but they can be appeased with tobacco. They have no

Selkie

Today, I wanted to write about Selkies, Scottish, and Norse water spirits. The Selkie folk are a mermaid like spirit that often take the form of grey seals but are able to shed their seal skin to become beautiful women at night. In many stories human men will steal their seal skins trapping them as

Shuimu

Today I wanted to write about Shuimu, a Chinese water demon. Shuimu is a shapeshifter, often taking the form of a beautiful woman. However, her true form is a snake or dragon (she may have originally been a human though as one legend tells her being a peasant woman with magic killed by her mother-in-law),

Rusalka

Today I wanted to write about Rusalka, a Slavic water spirit. Rusalka were originally healing spirits associated with the life giving powers of water however after the conversion of Slavic Europe they became more malicious associated with drowning. They ate often considered spirits of the undead and can be seen brushing their hare using bone

Thalassa

Today I wanted to write about Thalassa, a Hellenic primordial goddess of the sea. Thalassa is the sister of Gaia, wife of Pontus, and the mother of Aegaeon, the Telchines, Halia, Aphrodite, Aether, and Hemera. Thalassa’s Roman equivalent is Mare. Thalassa is mentioned in a second century source for her healing rivers. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassa?wprov=sfla1

Pontus

Today I wanted to write about Pontus, a Hellenic primordial of the sea. Pontus is a son of Gaia, sometimes with Aether and other times he was born without a father. He is married to Thalassa, but had many children with Gaia including Nereus, Keto, and Phorcys. Pontus was worshipped alongside Tyche as the patrons

Davy Jones

Today I wanted to write about Davy Jones, a folk devil of the seas whose legends started with Christian British sailors. Many different legends surround Davy Jones, most commonly he is somehow connected to the biblical Jonah, usually his ghost. Davy Jones is often said to keep the souls of those who die at sea.

Atargatis

Today I wanted to write about Atargatis, also called Derkeyo, Dea Syria or Deasura a Western Asian mermaid goddess of water, fertility, and protection. Atargatis is the wife of Hadad. She also had a relationship with Simios which resulted in a daughter, Semiramis , ashamed of this relationship Atargatis fled into the ocean becoming a

Sedna

Today I wanted to write about Sedna (also latinised as Sanna, or Sidne), an Inuit goddess (or androgynous deity) of the sea, marine life, and Adlivun; the underworld. Sedna is often described as being a giant. She’s the daughter of Anguta and Isarrataitsoq. Depending on the region there are different events that lead to her

Keto

Today I wanted to write about Keto, a Hellenic primordial goddess of the sea and marine life. Her most common birth story is as a daughter of Gaia and Pontus, however she is sometimes included in the Oceanids or Nereids. She’s often the wife of Phorcys, together they gave birth to Echidna, the Gorgons (including

Tethys

Today I wanted to write about Tethys, a Hellenic titan of water. She’s a daughter of Gaia and Ouranos, the wife of Oceanus, and the mother of the Potamoi and Oceanids. In some Orphic traditions Tethys and Oceanus were the parents to Kronos and Rhea as well as the other titans (with the addition of

Triton

Today I wanted to write about Triton, a Hellenic god of the seas who is also sometimes a messenger deity. He is a son of Poseidon and Amphitrite who is married to Lybia. He is sometimes said to be the father of Athena. Triton my actual refer to two separated gods the sea god who