They had sea-blue eyes that were dark and menacing, and their fingernails were as sharp and strong as a sea shell. Instead of legs, they had a tail similar to that of a dolphin beneath their belly. It is said that Triton spawned the entire race of these beings. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.
However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Read more on our privacy policy here. Cookie Settings Accept All. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.
We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In the Aeneid , Virgil claimed that Triton killed one of the sons of Aeolus for challenging him to play a horn as well as he did.
This Roman tale, however, seems to be based on earlier Greek legends of musical contests between other gods. The most notable instance of Triton appearing as a character is unattested in literature but common in art, particularly black-figure vase painting.
Many pieces showed a scene of Triton and Heracles in a wrestling contest. The story is sometimes told that the hero engaged in a similar contest with Nereus, one of the old sea gods. Some historians believe that the vases may show Nereus while he shifted between shapes, but some label the participants and even include Nereus as a spectator.
Because no written record of this myth survives, it is unclear what the context of the scene was. Poseidon was very much like Zeus and his realm, although mysterious, was imagined to be like that of Zeus as well. The sea had palaces, legendary creatures, and minor gods just as the land did. The idea of life under the water mimicking life on land became more pronounced throughout Greek history. In this view of the sea, it would seem logical for the family and court of Poseidon to mirror that of Zeus.
Just as Zeus made his son Hermes a messenger and herald, so too did Poseidon. Without another significant function, Triton took on a role that was familiar for the sons of rulers. The Tritons began to be depicted en masse by the 4th century BC. The beautiful nymphs of the sea were accompanied by fish-tailed men who rode on dolphins and seahorses. This put Triton in a similar category to Eros or, more likely, Pan.
In other legends they helped men at sea, using their powers to raise the winds or calm the storms. Mermaids are often depicted combing their long flowing hair while gazing at themselves in a mirror, evidence of their vanity, self absorption and inability to be trusted. Aphrodite , the goddess of love, was raised by mermaids.
The feared aspect of women in Greek mythology, and especially mermaids, is their ability to seduce men with their beauty and charm. When a divine female seduced a human man, it almost always resulted in his demise. The poetic story of the Argonauts, by Apollonius, is the story of Jason and his journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece from the imaginary island of Colchis. It tells of his relationship with the dangerous princess Medea and the treacherous seas faced by the Argonauts, the sailors of his ship the Argo.
Triton awaited them in his home in the salt lake Tritonis. After a storm stranded Jason and his men in the Libyan Desert, they were forced to carry their ship to the lake. Triton helped them navigate their way back to the sea.
Angry at his arrogance, the god Triton throws him into the sea and sends a wave to drown him. One of the most famous fountains in Rome is a Bernini masterpiece called the Fontana del Tritone. Sculpted in , it still stands in Piazza Barberini and depicts the fishtailed Triton surrounded by dolphins and drinking from a conch shell.
The enchanting fishtailed creatures of the sea continue to be a fascination and artistic inspiration in popular culture. It has been translated into many languages and is still enjoyed by children the world over.
Triton was the father of Pallas and foster parent to the goddess Athena. Pallas was killed by Athena during a fight between the two goddesses. Triton is also sometimes cited as the father of Scylla by Lamia. Triton might be multiplied into a host of Tritones, daemones of the sea.
His appearance resembles that of a merman male mermaid.
0コメント