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Amphitrite

Amphitrite, in ancient Greek mythology, was a sea-goddess, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys or Nereus and Doris, and wife of Poseidon. In Roman mythology, she was known as Salacia.

Amphitrite ("the third one who encircles (the sea)") was so entirely confined in her authority to the sea and the creatures in it, that she was never associated with her husband either for purposes of worship or in works of art, except when he was to be distinctly regarded as the god who controlled the sea.

She was one of the Nereids, and distinguishable from the others only by her queenly attributes. It was said that Poseidon saw her first dancing at Naxos among the other Nereids, and carried her off. But in another version of the myth, she then fled from him to the farthest ends of the sea, where the dolphin of Poseidon found her, and was rewarded by being placed among the stars.

Poseidon had one son by Amphitrite, Triton and a daughter, Rhode.

In works of art she is represented either enthroned beside him, or driving with him in a chariot drawn by sea-horses or other fabulous creatures of the deep, and attended by Tritons and Nereids. She is dressed in queenly robes and has nets in her hair. The pincers of a lobster are sometimes attached to her temple.

In poetry, her name is often used for the sea.

(from an old encyclopedia)



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