Nilus or Neilos | |
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River God of the Nile | |
Member of the Potamoi | |
Abode | River Nile in Egypt |
Genealogy | |
Parents | Oceanus and Tethys |
Siblings | Potamoi and Oceanids |
Consort | Nephele, Callirhoe, Euthenia |
Offspring | Achiroe, Memphis, Telephassa, Chione, Anippe, Caliadne (possibly), Polyxo (possibly) |
In Greek mythology, Nilus (/ˈnaɪləs/; Ancient Greek: Νεῖλος, romanized: Neilos) is one of the three thousand Potamoi, the river gods, who represent the god of the Nile river itself. Nilus is the son of the water gods Oceanus and Tethys.
Nilus was one of 3,000 river gods children of the Titans Oceanus and his sister-wife Tethys.[1] He was father to several children, of these included Memphis[2] (mother of Libya by Epaphus a king of Egypt), as well as a son named Nilus Ankhmemiphis (the father of Anchinoe and Telephassa)[citation needed].
His granddaughter Libya in turn became mother to Belus and Agenor. These sons then married (presumably) younger daughters of his son Nilus named Anchiroe[2] and Telephassa, respectively. A daughter Chione[3] was said to be borne to Nilus and Callirhoe, an Oceanid. His other children include: Argiope,[4] Anippe,[5] Eurryroe, Europa[6] and possibly Caliadne, Polyxo and Thebe.[7]
And Tethys bore to Ocean eddying rivers, Nilus, and Alpheus, and deep-swirling Eridanus.
From Oceanus and Tethys [were born] the Oceanides . . . Of the same descent Rivers : Strymon, Nile, Euphrates, Tanais, Indus, Cephisus, Ismenus, Axenus, Achelous, Simoeis, Inachus, Alpheus, Thermodon, Scamandrus, Tigris, Maeandrus, Orontes.
When Epaphos was ruler of the Aigyptians (Egyptians), he married Neilos' daughter Memphis, and in her honour founded the polis of Memphis, and fathered a daughter Libya. [N.B. Libya was the ancient Greek name for the continent of Africa.]
Belos (Belus) [grandson of Epaphos] remained to become king of Aigyptos (Egypt), and married Neilos' daughter Ankhinoe (Anchinoe), who gave him twin sons, Aigyptos (Aegyptus) and Danaus.
Bousiris (Busiris), the son of Poseidon and Anippe, daughter of Neilos ... So says Agathon of Samos.
Hippostratus says that Aegyptus has begotten only by Eurryroe,
The daughter of Nilus, fifty sons;
As well as Danaus has begotten all his daughters,
By Europa, the daughter of Nilus,...
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