Oceanus was believed to be the world ocean in classical antiquity, which the ancient Romans and Greeks considered to be an enormous river encircling the world. In Greek mythology, this world-ocean was personified as a Titan, a son of Uranus and Gaia. The Romans called him Ocean.
History[]
Oceanus' consort is his wife Tethys, and from their union came the ocean nymphs, also known as the three-thousand Oceanids, and all the rivers of the world, fountains, and lakes. From Kronos, of the race of Titans, the Olympians gods have their birth, and Hera mentions twice in Iliad book her intended journey "to the ends of the generous earth on a visit to Oceanus, whence the gods have risen, and Tethys our mother who brought me up kindly in their own house."
In most variations of the war between the Titans and the Olympians, or Titanomachy, Oceanus, along with Prometheus and Themis, did not take the side of his fellow Titans against the Olympians, but instead withdrew from the conflict. In most variations of this myth, Oceanus also refused to side with Kronos in the latter's revolt against their father, Uranus.
Eventually Oceanus retreated to the deep sea and was succeeded by Poseidon .
Second Olympian War[]
Oceanus was neutral in the first war, but Kronos convinces him to fight against the gods more specifically Poseidon. He enlists Aigaios as well as many ancient monsters against Poseidon, and they battle constantly, leaving Poseidon weakened. It should be noted that Amphitrite is his daughter, and that she joins forces against her father along with her husband Poseidon. Oceanus and his forces attack Poseidon underwater, making his palace endangered and also making him unable to aid the Olympians fight the monster, Typhon. After Kronos was defeated, he retreated back into the depths.
Appearance[]
Oceanus is often depicted as having the upper body of a muscular man with a long beard and horns (often represented as the claws of a crab), and the lower torso of a serpent.