Triton (mythology)

God or Goddess Information

• Symbol: Conch-shell trumpet and trident
• Country or Culture: Greek
• Mother: Amphitrite (or Celaeno)
• Father: Poseidon (or Neptune)
• Siblings: Benthesikyme; Rhodos; Desponia; Theseus; Dictys; Bellerophon; Pegasus
• Children: Kalliste; Pallas; Triteia; the Tritonides

Triton is a mythological god of Greek origin who is both the son and messenger of Poseidon, the god of the sea. He is described as being a physically imposing male figure with the tail of a fish or dolphin. Like his father, he carries a three-pronged trident, though he is more often associated with his twisted conch-shell trumpet. With this magical instrument, he is able to create stormy waters or pacify ocean waves. In this capacity, he serves as the patron god of sea waves and calm oceans. He also has the ability to change his shape and to see the future. He is a common subject of Greek mosaics and statuary, particularly fountains, where he is depicted as a merman riding the waves.

Over time, his name became more associated with a group of mythological creatures that were collectively called tritons. They were sometimes portrayed as the children of Triton (in which capacity they were called either tritons or the Tritonides) or as a class of mythological creatures that looked like mermen. In this latter incarnation, they served as the attendants to other sea-gods, similar to how satyrs often served as retainers to the Greek gods who lived on land.

Overview

Triton is the son of Poseidon, one of the most important Greek deities, and his wife, Amphitrite. According to Greek mythology, Amphitrite is a full goddess, though she is reduced to being the consort of Poseidon in some stories. She is the daughter of Nereus and Doris. Nereus is an elder Greek sea-god. Amphitrite is one of the fifty Nereids, a group of sea nymphs. These female deities symbolize the beauty of the ocean and live together in their father's golden palace at the bottom of the Aegean Sea. On Greek statues and vases, Amphitrite is often depicted as being carried by a group of tritons.

According to Greek mythology, Poseidon spies Amphitrite dancing with her sisters near the island of Naxos and becomes entranced by her beauty and movement. He kidnaps her, but she escapes and seeks the protection of Atlas, one of the ancient Titans. Poseidon commands the dolphins under his control to bring her back to him to be his wife.

In the poet Hesiod's Theogony, which was written sometime in the seventh or eighth century BCE, Triton is the only child of Poseidon and Amphitrite. In other versions of his genealogy, he has two full sisters: Benthesikyme and Rhodos. However, as with many figures from Greek mythology, the parentage of his sisters varies depending on the source. Regardless, Triton has dozens of half brothers and sisters through Poseidon's dalliances with mortal women and goddesses. Their numbers sometimes included the heroes Theseus and Bellerophon.

The tritons are described in mythology as being mermen with green hair the color of the ocean, hard scales, rough hands, and sea-green eyes. In some cases, they are presented as having horse hooves instead of hands. In this form, they are sometimes called Centaur-Tritons or ichthyocentaurs. This type of triton is often depicted attending Poseidon in works of art.

In Mythology

Triton appears as a minor figure in classical works by Homer, Hesiod, and Ovid. For instance, Triton makes a brief appearance in the story of the Argonauts after they recover the Golden Fleece from the land of Colchis. According to versions of the story told by the Greek poets Pindar and Herodotus, on their return voyage, the Argonauts become trapped in Lake Tritonis near Libya after being hit with a great wave. This lake is often depicted as being Triton's home. Triton leads the Argonauts to open water and presents them with a gift of earth that eventually grows to become the island of Thera (present-day Santorini) in the southern Aegean Sea.

Triton also appears briefly in the Gigantomachy. This story relates the great battle between the gods of Olympus and the Giants (or Gigantes), a race of monsters that are the children of Uranus and Gaia. According to legend, Triton uses his conch-shell trumpet to frighten the Giants during this epic conflict. His propensity for blowing on his trumpet appears in other mythological tales as well. In one, he drowns the musician Misenus for daring to believe he is the Gods' musical equal.

Triton has several children, including Kalliste, Pallas, and Triteia. He is also occasionally portrayed as the adoptive father of Athena, the daughter of Zeus. Although he raises Pallas and Athena both as his own daughters, Athena accidentally kills her adopted sister during a fight. Out of regret for her actions, Athena assumes the name Pallas Athena to honor her fallen friend.

Origins and Cults

Some historians have speculated that the base words trito and trite found in Triton and Amphitrite's names may have had some associations with the ocean or water. If so, such etymological links have been lost. Potentially further establishing this connection is the title of Tritogeneia, which is used by Triton's adopted daughter, Athena. The Greek village of Tritaia also takes its name from Triton through his daughter Triteia. Legend suggests that Tritaia was founded by Melanippus, the son of Triteia and Ares, and named in honor of his mother.

Triton is largely considered a minor god whose primary function is to serve his father. However, over time, he has come to displace his grandfather, Nereus, in Greek art. In the story of Herakles (or Hercules, as the Romans called him), the hero encounters Nereus during his twelve labors. In the eleventh of these labors, Herakles is tasked with stealing apples from the garden of the Hesperides. To find their sacred land, Herakles captures Nereus and forces him to reveal the garden's hidden location. In sixth century BCE depictions of this story, Nereus is supplanted by his grandson. Whereas Nereus is shown as an old man, Triton is depicted as a young man with a fish tail. Unlike Nereus, Triton is able to change his physical form; like his grandfather, he is regarded as a deity of great wisdom.

Bibliography

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Glynn, Ruth. "Herakles, Nereus and Triton: A Study of Iconography in Sixth Century Athens." American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 85, no. 2, 1981, pp. 121–32.

Hard, Robin. "The Brothers and Sisters of Zeus: Poseidon's Consort Amphitrite and His Children by Her and Other Mothers." The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's Handbook of Greek Mythology. Routledge, 2004, pp. 104–7.

March, Jennifer R. "Triton." Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Oxbow Books, 2014, pp. 482–84.

Mommsen, Heide. "Reflections on Triton." Approaching the Ancient Artifact: Representation, Narrative, and Function, edited by Amalia Avramidou and Denise Demetriou. De Gruyter, 2014, pp. 53–64.

Roman, Luke, and Monica Roman. "Triton." Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology. Facts on File, 2014, pp. 501–3.

Schefold, Karl, and Luca Guiliani. "Legends of the Heroes: Herakles: Wrestling with Triton." Gods and Heroes in Late Archaic Greek Art. Translated by Alan Griffiths, Cambridge UP, 1992, pp. 138–41.

Sears, Kathleen. "Triton. Hecate, and Pan." Mythology 101: From Gods and Goddesses to Monsters and Mortals, Your Guide to Ancient Mythology. Simon and Schuster, 2013, pp. 170–74.

Struck, Peter T. "Triton." University of Pennsylvania, www.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/tools/dictionary.php?method=did&regexp=2303&setcard=0&link=0&media=0. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.