PONTUS (primordial god of the sea)
Primordial power · sea god of Greek mythology
- Parents
- Gaia
- Siblings
- Uranus
- Children
- Nereus, Phorcys, Telchines, Thaumas, Ceto, Cepheus, Aegaeon, Eurybia, Halie, Damon, Adméto, Lycus
- Haunts and cult places
- Aea, Cyaneae, Black Sea
- In the sources
- 180 ancient passages
Pontus, the fruitless deep with a raging swell, was born from Earth alone without any union of love.1 He stood as a brother to Uranus and a son to Gaia, distinct from her other children.1 During the time of the great flood, his form appeared as a lake, swollen by rivers that caused his waters to burst forth violently.2 His surge turned a level part of Samothrace into a sea.2
Together with Earth, Pontus was the parent of Phorcus, Thaumas, Nereus, Eurybia, and Ceto.3,4 The codex relations also list Telchines, Cepheus, and Aegaeon among his children. Wizard arts known by Pontus would later be seen again in Corinth.5 Located at the farthest shore of Ocean, he was warmed by the ingliding stars.6 Colchian Aea sat at his edge, marking the boundary of the world.7
The Black Sea, known as Pontus Axenus, meant the Inhospitable Sea due to severe storms and savage nations on its shores.8 Later, it was called Pontus Euxinus, the Hospitable Sea, as Ionians established cities along its shores.8 The Cyaneae islands lay at his mouth, and Phrixus traveled into the Pontus after his sister fell into the sea.9,10 The ship Argo fled from his dread jaws.11
The codex facts behind this entry
Pontus is described as the fruitless deep with a raging swell. The Theogony ll. 116-138 Pontus is described as having the form of a lake during the time of the great flood. Diodorus 5.47 The Black Sea was known by the name Pontus Axenus, meaning the Inhospitable Sea. Strabo 7.3.6 part 1
Powers
Wizard arts known by Pontus will be seen again in Corinth. Seneca, Medea act 1 ¶2
In the myths
Pontus was born from Earth alone, distinct from her other children. The Theogony ll. 116-138 Ionians established cities along the shores of the sea during a later period. Strabo 7.3.6 part 1 Pontus was swollen by rivers flowing into it, causing its waters to burst forth violently. Diodorus 5.47 Pontus's waters turned a level part of Samothrace into a sea. Diodorus 5.47
