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Thetis the sea Nymph and the mother of Achilles

Thetis the sea Nymph and the mother of Achilles

This is a collection of my favorite myths regarding Thetis. Please note that there may be other variations as well!

Origin, Father and becoming Nereid

It is said that originally, the father of Thetis was the immortal centaur leader, Chiron. She wanted to devote herself to the water gods, just like her mother Chariclo, who was a nymph. Thetis was adopted by the sea god Nereus, also known as ‘Old Man of the Sea’ and his wife Doris, one of the oceanic nymphs, Oceanids. 

Nereus and Doris were the father and mother of 50 nymphs called the Nereids! One of the fifty was Thetis, who was very powerful Nereid, being the offspring of Titans and Gods. Soon she became the Leader of the 50 Nereids! Her aid was powerfully useful for anyone needing her. Even Zeus required her assistance when it was most needed!

Titanomachy 

Typhon, the Titan monster

After Zeus reclaimed her brothers and sisters from Cronos, he started the most brutal war known to man. The Titanomachy, the war between the Titans led by Cronos against the Gods who all followed Zeus! 

It is said that when Zeus drove the Titans out of the heavens, Cronos created with his raging fury a monster so hideous and so brutally dangerous like no other before. Its name was Typhon, the ancestor to every monster that would come to be.

During the course of the war, Zeus faced the grave threat. The monstrous Typhon, a fearsome serpentine creature with a hundred dragon heads, rose up against him. Typhon possessed immense power and sought to dethrone Zeus, plunging the world into chaos. The battle between Zeus and Typhon was fierce, and it seemed as though the king of the gods might be defeated.

-Thetis Joins the battle in Zeus’s aid 

In this dire moment, Thetis, having witnessed the unfolding events, decided to intervene. She knew that Zeus was crucial to the balance of power and the survival of the gods. Drawing upon her powers as a sea nymph, she rushed to Zeus’s aid.

Thetis comes to assist Zeus against Typhon

Thetis swiftly traveled to the battlefield, her divine presence commanding attention. She appeared before Zeus, radiating an aura of strength and grace. With her calming words, she bolstered the faltering spirit of the king of the gods, reminding him of his indomitable power and the destiny that awaited him.

But Thetis did not stop there. Drawing upon her affinity for water, she conjured forth a torrential storm. The heavens rumbled, and rain poured down upon the battlefield. Thunder echoed, and lightning crackled in the sky. The storm she summoned was so powerful that it enveloped Typhon, engulfing the monstrous creature in a deluge of water.

In this moment of vulnerability, Zeus seized the opportunity. He unleashed his full might upon Typhon, summoning thunderbolts that rent the air and unleashing his divine fury. The battle reached its climax as Zeus, aided by Thetis’s intervention, vanquished Typhon, casting him into the depths of Tartarus.

Zeus, grateful for Thetis’s timely assistance, bestowed upon her his favor and protection. He recognized her as a valuable ally and acknowledged her crucial role in ensuring his victory. Thetis, for her part, accepted Zeus’s gratitude with humility, knowing that she had fulfilled her duty to safeguard the gods and preserve the order of the cosmos.

But this was not the only time Zeus would be saved from Thetis 

-Poseidon and Hera vs Zeus 

There was a time when Zeus, the king of the gods, had become a source of trouble and turmoil for the other Olympian deities. His infidelity and lustful behavior were causing strife and conflict among the gods and goddesses, particularly his wife Hera, who was known for her jealousy and vengeful nature.

Fed up with Zeus’s indiscretions, Hera decided to take matters into her own hands and conspired with Poseidon, the god of the sea, to teach Zeus a lesson. Together, they devised a plan to bind Zeus and render him powerless, hoping to put an end to his amorous escapades.

Under the cover of secrecy, Hera and Poseidon gathered a formidable collection of materials to carry out their scheme. They acquired unbreakable chains forged by the Cyclopes, the skilled blacksmiths of the gods. Additionally, they enlisted the help of Briareus, a hundred-armed giant known for his incredible strength.

On a day when Zeus was unsuspecting, Hera lured him to a beautiful meadow, where he was met by Poseidon and Briareus. As Zeus approached, the trap was sprung, and the chains were swiftly wrapped around him. The mighty Briareus used his strength to secure the chains, preventing Zeus from breaking free.

For the first time in eons, Zeus found himself unable to escape or resist. He was powerless, bound by the unyielding chains. The sky darkened, and thunder rumbled ominously as Zeus struggled against his restraints. Hera and Poseidon reveled in their victory, believing that they had finally brought Zeus to heel.

Zeus imprisoned by Hera and Poseidon

-Thetis comes to support Zeus once again

After Zeus was bound by the chains, Thetis witnessed his suffering and realized the precarious situation it created for the gods and the stability of the world. Understanding the potential consequences, she swiftly traveled to the cave of the giant Briareus, who was responsible for securing Zeus with his immense strength.

Thetis approached Briareus and beseech him to release Zeus from his bindings, emphasizing the dire circumstances that the actions of Poseidon and Hera had created. Briareus, recognizing the wisdom in her words and the need for Zeus’s leadership, agreed to her request.

With the help of Briareus, Thetis went to the other gods and goddesses, sharing her plea and explaining the gravity of the situation. Moved by her argument, the deities relented and acknowledged the need to restore Zeus’s freedom.

Ultimately, it was through the intervention of Thetis and the collective agreement of the gods that Zeus was released from his bonds, restoring order and stability to Olympus. And even though Zeus was furious at the audacity of Hera and Poseidon, he acknowledged their concern for his behavior. He issued a stern warning to all who had conspired against him, making it clear that his reign would not be undermined! 

Zeus then reached to Thetis and expressed his gratitude towards her, while confessing to her that he was in her debt. And she became the only nymph being in both Poseidon and Zeus council.

-The prophecy 

Thetis was renowned not only for her heroic actions aiding the gods but for her beauty as well! She was desired by both Poseidon and Zeus. But there was a prophecy surrounding her. The prophecy says that Thetis’s son would become greater than his father. And while Zeus and Poseidon were one of the strongest gods, two of the three sons of Cronos, a potential son of theirs  by Thetis would be potentially the greatest threat and danger of all the gods. That is why they made an agreement with each other to marry Thetis to a mortal. 

Around that time Peleus became the king of Thessalia and was looking for a wife. Chiron himself suggested that he should look for the sea nymph Thetis. The nymph that used to be her daughter in an age long ago, before Zeus became the ruler of the skies… 

Peleus had the most difficult task. Catching a sea goddess would seem almost impossible, but Peleus had nothing to lose. He was persistent and after a ong chase he trapped the nymph in a cave and managed to catch her. She tried to escape by turning into fire, water and dangerous things. But Peleus did not let her go and at last, she let herself go to him. By that union, Thetis became pregnant and she and Peleus planned a great wedding. One that would probably be the greatest wedding a human could organize! A wedding where all the gods and goddesses were invited! Well, all except one…

-The Wedding 

On the day of their wedding, Peleus and Thetis gathered with the gods and goddesses on Mount Pelion. The wedding was a grand affair, with the divine guests adorning the scene. However, one goddess was notably absent—Eris, the goddess of discord.

The golden Apple, The wedding of Thetis and Peleus

Eris was known for her mischievous nature and her ability to sow discord among mortals and gods alike. Her absence raised suspicions, and it was soon revealed that she was harboring resentment for not being invited to the wedding. Seeking revenge, Eris threw a golden apple into the midst of the gathering. Inscribed upon it were the words, “For the fairest.”

Instantly, three of the most powerful goddesses; Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, claimed the apple as their own. Each believed herself to be the rightful recipient of the title “the fairest.” A heated dispute ensued among the goddesses, and none could reach a resolution.

Zeus, the king of the gods, knew that he could not mediate the dispute impartially. Instead, he tasked a mortal named Paris, a prince of Troy, with the responsibility of choosing the fairest goddess. Paris was renowned for his judgment and fairness.

The three goddesses approached Paris, each offering him a bribe. Hera promised him power and dominion, Athena offered him wisdom and skill in battle, and Aphrodite tempted him with the love of the most beautiful woman in the world—Helen of Sparta.

Enchanted by the prospect of love, Paris chose Aphrodite as the fairest goddess. Little did he know that his decision would set in motion a chain of events that would lead to the Trojan War.

Returning to the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, the celebration continued despite the tension caused by the golden apple incident. The gods bestowed numerous gifts upon the couple, ensuring their happiness and prosperity.

-Thetis’s Children 

Thetis and Peleus lived in Phthia, while she, as a nymph, had to be close to the sea by her nature. That caused her to be away from the palace most of the time.

Thetis was worrying that her children would be mortals like his husband. She was saddened by only the thought that would see her children die of old age. That is why she wanted them to be immortal. There was only one way in her mind that this would be possible…

Every time she was pregnant and she was about to give birth she went away from Peleus and the palace. When she gave birth she held the child on a sacred fire, trying to make it immortal. But every time her child died, because of his mortality. This happened six times, and she returned to Peleus with their dead child. Peleus was depressed after years of trying to make a son and an heir to his throne. He was curious how it was possible that every child Thetis gave birth to, would end up dead, so in his curiosity, she went to find Thetis on the seventh time she was pregnant and she was about to give birth. 

He found exactly what was happening and in his rage he drew his sword and took the baby out of Thetis’s hands, saving it from the fire, that in Thetis’s eyes this time her spell worked and the child was about to become immortal! But Peleus took his son, grabbing it by his heel.

That child would be known later as Achilles, the greatest warrior to ever lived!

-Trojan War 

Achilles was trained by Chiron himself and while he led the Myrmidons, he was known as the greatest and strongest warrior of all! That is why he was requested to participate in the Trojan War, after Paris stole Helen from Menelaus.

Achilles before his final decision he requested for his mothers council. Thetis was well aware of his son’s prophecy, and she narrated it to him. If he goes to Troy he would become a famous warrior and be renowned in eons, but he would die. If he would stay in Phthia he would have a lovely family and a peaceful time but the children of his grandchildren would forget him …

He decided to join the war 

-Achilles asks Thetis for help 

Years in the Trojan war have passed and we are about 50 days before Troy’s defeat.

Thetis asks Zeus for help

After Agamemnon took Briseis from Achilles he ashamed him. Briseis was not just a lover to Achilles, but a trophy he took, which symbolized his triumph in war. By taking Briseis from him it was like an insult to Achilles. His rage and sorrow made him decide to stop participating in the war and he prays to his mother for council. She appeared in front of him promising to deal with it immediately and he asks him to not arm himself for battle unless he sees her coming back! 

Thetis then goes to Olympus to see Zeus. He asks him to punish Agamemnon and the Greeks who ashamed and wronged his son! But, Zeus tells her that the Trojan War is a human matter and all the gods agreed to not take part in it! But then Thetis reminds Zeus of his promise to her. He is in debt to her, by the time she saved him not only from the monstrous Typhon, but from Hera and Poseidon as well! Zeus bows his head to her and agrees to assist the Trojans until Agamemnon admits his mistake and restores Achilles’s honor. 

Zeus stands from his throne and with lighting speed gives strength to the Trojans who started winning every battle against the Greeks. Hera and Poseidon, who were supporting the Greeks, had to find a way to stop Zeus! Poseidon first distracts Zeus by asking him why he started joining this human matter and then Hera lures him on the island of Limnos. There she seduced him and spent a lovely night together. But at dawn Zeus woke up and remembered his promise to Thetis. 

-Patroclus Death

Zeus went himself to the battlefield and like thunder, he crushed the Greek troops! Hera worried and sent Iris, a messenger of the gods, to ask Achilles to arm himself and join the battle. If Achilles was to take part in the war, Zeus would stop knowing Thetis’s son was against him. But Achilles refuses because he remembered his promise to his mother. He told Patroclus that if the Trojans breach their walls and enter their camp, only then the Myrmidons would join the battle. But he asks for Patroclus only to drive the Trojans away from their camp’s walls, not further!

Zeus aided Hector, who chased the Greeks up until the coast and their ships. Hector destroyed the Greek defensive wall and entered their camp. That is when Patroclus with Achilles’s armor joins the battlefield. Zeus then stops his aid seeing the Myrmidons joined the battle. Patroclus, being Achilles in disguise, brought terror to the Trojans and chased them, in his counter attack, up until Troy’s city walls!  He ignored Achilles’s request and in his attempt for glory he tried to climb the walls of Troy by himself 7 times! He was shouting pridefully that not even the gods could stop him. This enraged the gods who weakened him and Hector found the opportunity to face him. He killed Patroclus and the news of his death reached Achilles.

-Thetis asks Hephaestus for armor 

Thetis gives Achilles his new weapons, forged by Hephaestus

Achilles depressed after the death of Patroclus, cried for his mother. Thetis appears to him and promises him revenge! She told him that would go to Hephaestus and ask him to craft mastercrafted weapons and armor, which he did. 

When Thetis goes back to Achilles to deliver his new armor, she finds him still upset over Patroclus. Achilles fears that while he is off fighting the Trojans, Patroclus’ body will decay and rot. Thetis, however, reassures him and places ambrosia and nectar in Patroclus’ nose in order to protect his body against decay.

Agamemnon returned Briseis to Achilles and did anything to get Achilles back to the battlefield. Achilles rejoined the war and led the Myrmidons against the Trojans. While he was seeking revenge on Hector! Which he did, after killing him in a single combat…

The story of the Trojan war went on and when Achilles died, it is rumored that Thetis took his remains and grieved his death with her sister’s nymphs.

You can find more variations and encyclopedia facts about Thetis, here

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