The Oceanides

Ancient Greek Goddesses for Kids - The Oceanides
Ancient Greek Goddesses and Nymphs - The Oceanides

Oceanides
Discover fascinating information about the beautiful, supernatural sea nymphs referred to as Oceanides who were believed by the ancient Greeks to inhabit the oceans and featured in the legends and mythology of Ancient Greece. Oceanides were minor goddesses of nature, specifically the rivers of the world, the fountains, subterranean springs, wells, lakes, clouds, winds, breezes, sunsets and sunrises. Sixty of the younger Oceanides were attendants of the goddess Artemis and formed part of her retinue. This article provides facts, pictures and information about the benign Oceanides. Additional facts & information about the mythology of Greek goddesses and nymphs can be accessed via the following links::

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Definition of the Oceanides
Who were the Oceanides of Ancient Greek mythology? The meaning and definition of Oceanides are as follows: Definition of Oceanides: The Oceanides were minor goddesses and water nymphs, the three thousand daughters of the ancient Titan gods Oceanus and his wife Tethys. According to Greek mythology sixty of the younger Oceanides were attendants of the goddess Artemis and formed part of her retinue. Like all nymphs the Oceanides had the gift of prophecy and divination.

The Oceanides - Water Nymphs of the Oceans or Rivers?
The name 'Oceanides' suggests that these nymphs presided over the salt water oceans, but this was always not the case. The 3000 Oceanides were nymphs of all the rivers of the world, the fountains, subterranean springs, wells and lakes. The Oceanides were also minor goddesses of clouds, winds, breezes, sunsets and sunrises. The name 'Oceanides' is taken from the name of their father Oceanus who was the ancient god of the 'River Oceanus', an enormous river that encircled the world. The ancient Greeks believed that the River Oceanus was a great, fresh-water stream that encircled the entire flat earth. The River Oceanus was believed to be the source of all fresh waters on earth and from its stream all the rivers and clouds drew their waters. The River Styx, which encircled the Underworld, also drew their waters from the River Oceanus. In later times Oceanus came to represent the unknown waters of the Atlantic Ocean and a god of the next generation of deities, Poseidon, ruled over the Mediterranean Sea. The Oceanides were also called the Hydriades or Ephydriades, water nymphs that were believed to be the nymphs all the rivers of the world, fountains, and lakes.

Picture of the Oceanides

Picture of the Oceanides

The Oceanides - The Potamoi
Oceanus and Tethys also had 3,000 sons, the river-gods called the Potamoi who were the brothers of the Oceanides. The brothers and sisters often married and their offspring were the Naiades who also presided over freshwater waterways. Most sources limit the term 'Oceanides' to the daughters but others include both the sons and daughters of Oceanus and Tethys under this term.

Names of the Groups of Oceanides
In Greek mythology the Oceanides were the patrons of a particular spring, river, sea, lake, pond or cloud. The water nymphs who presided over all the different forms of water and waterways were designated the general name of Oceanides, however, four distinct groups of Oceanides were given specific names:

The Hydriades were a group of water nymphs who protected various springs and they attributed therapeutic properties to their water, hence the term hydrotherapy
The Ephydriades were the Oceanide Nymphs of the fountains
The Nephelai were the Oceanide Nymphs of clouds
The Aurai were the Oceanide Nymphs of breezes

Picture of Hydriades by Poynter

Picture of Hydriades by Poynter

Oceanides Family Tree and Genealogy in Greek Mythology
The following Sea Gods family tree illustrates the genealogy of the Oceanides as detailed in ancient Greek Mythology and legends. The Oceanides were the daughters of Tethys and Oceanus.

Sea Gods Family Tree and Genealogy

Oceanide water nymphs

Oceanide water nymphs

Names of Famous Oceanides in Greek Mythology
The names of the most famous Oceanides mentioned in Greek Mythology are detailed in the following chart:

Names of Oceanides in Greek Mythology
Names of Oceanides	*Oceanides in Greek Mythology and Legends*
Admete	The myth of Admete: She was a companion of Persephone
Capheira	The myth of the Oceanide Capheira: She was the nymph who cared for the storm-clouds
Crocale	The myth of Crocale: She was one of the younger Oceanides who attended Artemis
Clymene	Clymene was a handmaiden of Hera and personified the blessing of Fame.
Dione	The myth of the Oceanide Dione: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans
Eidyia	The myth of the Oceanide Eidyia: She was the wife of Aeetes, the mother of Medea
Eurynome	The myth of the Oceanide Eurynome: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans
Elektra	The myth of the Oceanide Elektra: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans
Hesione	The myth of the Oceanide Hesione: She was the wife of Prometheus
Leucippe	The myth of the Oceanide Leucippe: She was with Persephone when she was kidnapped by Hades
Melia	The myth of the Oceanide Melia: She was loved by the god Apollo
Menestho	The myth of the Oceanide Menestho: She was the nymph of strongly blowing breezes
Metis	The myth of the Oceanide Metis: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans and personified the blessing of Wisdom
Neda	The myth of the Oceanide Neda: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans. She helped nurse the infant Zeus
Periboea	The myth of the Oceanide Periboea: She was the the mother of Aura, goddess of the breeze
Peitho	Peitho was the handmaiden of Aphrodite, an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans and personified the blessing of Persuasion.
Petraea	The myth of the Oceanides Petraea: She was sea nymph of the rocks and well respected by sailors
Phaino	The myth of the Oceanides Phaino: She was the nymph of the shining of bright clouds
Phiale	The myth of Phiale: She was a young Oceanide and attendant of Artemis who offered refreshment from a pitcher or ‘water bowl’
Philyra	The myth of the Oceanide Philyra: She was goddess of perfume and of writing who began paper making
Pleione	The myth of the Oceanides Pleione: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans
Plexaure	The myth of the Oceanides Plexaure: She was the nymph of the ‘weaving breeze’ and linked to the wind nymphs
Plouto	The myth of the Oceanides Plouto: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans and personified the blessing of Wealth
Polydora	The myth of the Oceanides Polydora: She was a voluptuous nymph who brought many gifts
Pronoia	The myth of the Oceanides Pronoia: She was the goddess of foresight and wife of Prometheus
Prymno	The myth of the Oceanides Prymno: She was the nymph of fair wind who gave her name to a large asteroid
Psekas	The myth of the Oceanides Psekas: She was one of the younger Oceanides, an attendent of Artemis and associated with rain-showers
Rhanis	The myth of Rhanis: She was one of the younger Oceanides, an attendant of Artemis
Styx	The myth of the Oceanides Styx: She was the nymph of the river Styx that flowed around Hades and associated with the Titans
Telestoe	The myth of the Oceanides Telestoe: She was the nymph of the cools springs, also named for a moon of Saturn. She was an elder nymphwho was associated with the Titans and personified the blessing of Success
Thoe	The myth of the Oceanide Thoe: She was the nymph of associated with clouds and air
Tyche	The myth of the Oceanides Tyche: She was an elder nymph, a goddess of the heavenly clouds, who was associated with the Titans and personified the blessing of Good Fortune
Xanthe	The myth of the Oceanide Xanthe: She was the nymph of the nymph of the golden clouds of sunsets and sunrises
Names of Oceanides	*Oceanides in Greek Mythology and Legends*
Names of Oceanides in Greek Mythology

Merman and a Nereid

Merman and a Oceanide

Oceanides Sea Nymphs

Sea Nymphs - the Oceanides
Images and Pictures
Greek mythology and legends
Educational resource for schools, kids and children
Facts and information about the ancient Greek Oceanides sea nymphs for schools and kids