Phorcys: Mythological Origin and Symbolism of This Greek Sea God

Written by Niccoy Walker
Updated: April 25, 2023
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Hesiod, in his Theogony, describes the time before the beginning of the universe as Chaos, a mythological void state where nothingness stretches for eternity. Gaia, the ancestral mother, rises from the void as the earth. She gives birth to the sky called Uranus. And the two create the Titans or pre-Olympian gods. After this, things get weird. Drama, one-eyed monsters, manipulation, and lots of murder take place. So where does Phorcys come into play? Discover his origin, symbolism, and all about his family.

What is Phorcys the God of? His Origin and Symbolism

Phorcys

Late Roman mosaics, Phorcys is depicted as this grotesque-looking merman with crab claws and red spiky skin.

©CC BY-SA 2.0 – License

Phorcys, also known as “the old man of the sea,” is a primordial sea god, and he is most known for fathering some pretty horrible offspring. In many Late Roman mosaics, Phorcys is depicted as this grotesque-looking merman with crab claws and red spiky skin. He is the son of Gaia, the ancestral mother, and Pontus, a pre-Olympian sea god. Pontus is also the son of Gaia and has no father. Incest runs wild in Ancient Greek folklore.

However, in Plato’s Timaeus, a long monologue discussing the creation of the world, he states that Phorcys is one of the eldest sons of Oceanus and Tethys. Oceanus was the Titan son of Uranus and Gaia, and Tethys was his sister and wife.

As an ancient sea god, Phorcys represents the hidden dangers and mysteries of the sea. Between him and his wife, they were the gods of the largest, creepiest sea creatures that plagued fishermen and sailors.

What Powers Does Phorcys Have?

As a sea god, Phorcys can control the ocean. He can control any kind of water and cause bodies of water to bend at his will. Like most Greek gods, he has superhuman strength and resistance to injury. Even though Phorcys has divine powers and a high level of control over the sea, he is still inferior to Poseidon and Oceanus.

How to Pronounce Phorcys

Phorcys is pronounced [for | sis]. But the Ancient Greek translation would have been closer to [for | kiss].

Is Phorcys a Titan?

Mount Olympus

The Titans were the elder gods who ruled the world before the Olympians overthrew them. Pictured above is an illustration of Mount Olympus.

©iStock.com/MAXIM ZHURAVLEV

Phorcys is a lesser-known sea god but is considered one of the oldest beings to exist in Greek mythology. He existed before Zeus and the Olympians, and because he was born from primordial deities, he is a Titan. The Titans were the elder gods who ruled the world before the Olympians overthrew them.

Who is Phorcys’ Wife?

Phorcys marries his sister, Ceto. And Ceto is a primordial sea goddess and also the offspring of Gaia and Pontus. She is an ancient sea deity that governs sea monsters and sea kings. Her ability to control monsters of the deep and Phorcys’ hydrokinesis powers makes them a primordial power couple.

How to Pronounce Ceto

Ceto is pronounced [see | toe]. And in Ancient Greek, it would have been [kee | toe].

Who Were the Daughters of Phorcys and Ceto?

Perseus slays Medusa

“Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Benvenuto Cellini, Loggia dei Lanzi, Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy

©iStock.com/Sarah Lage

Phorcys and Ceto had at least seven daughters. The first three are known as the Graeae or the gray sisters. They were born with gray hair and shared one eye and one tooth between the three of them. Their names are Enyo, Deino, and Pemphredo, and they are often depicted as witches. You may remember them from the 1997 animated movie Hercules.

The next three daughters were the Gorgons, consisting of Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. The Gorgons were winged human-like females with live, venomous snakes for hair and a knack for turning people to stone after gazing into their eyes. Stheno and Euryale were supposedly immortal, but Medusa was slain by the demigod Perseus.

Ladon was the youngest daughter but also a monster in Greek mythology. She was a snake-like dragon that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. The Hesperides were the nymphs of the evening and also the daughters of the Titan Atlas.

Echidna is most likely another daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, but the ancient texts are unclear on this point. Echidna was also a monster. And she lived alone in a cave as a half woman half snake. Typhos, a giant serpentine and one of the deadliest monsters in Greek mythology, was Echidna’s mate. And together, they created many dangerous offspring.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © CC BY-SA 2.0 – License / Original


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About the Author

Niccoy is a professional writer for A-Z Animals, and her primary focus is on birds, travel, and interesting facts of all kinds. Niccoy has been writing and researching about travel, nature, wildlife, and business for several years and holds a business degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver. A resident of Florida, Niccoy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time at the beach.

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