Thetis’ Family Tree

Gaea (grandmother) and Potus (grandfather)

*Gaea made Potus from herself.

* Potus became know as the oldest spirit of the waters.

|

Nereus (father) and Doris (mother)

*Nereus is known as the Old Man of the Sea.

*Nereus and Doris lived in the Aegean Sea assisting sailors.

|

50 daughters

*These daughters were called the Nereids.

*They were fair with golden hair.

*Thetis -  was the second oldest and leader of the sisters.

|

Thetis and husband (Peleus)

|

Son (Achilles)

So, now you know the lineage.  My sisters and I assisted many sailors on the sea, like our parents.  Poseidon, the God of the Sea, took notice of me.  Zeus, who for good reason is known as the father of the Gods and men, also lusted after me.  I tried to ignore him, stay out of his way, but he’s a persistent man.  Ultimately, two events served to cool Zeus like a cold shower.  First, a Titaness named Themis predicted that I would give birth to a son who would be mightier than his whomever fathered him.  Now, Zeus is lecherous, but he has his priorities and he wasn’t about to let anyone, even a son, take the throne from under him.  In addition, Hera, Zeus’ wife who just-so-happened to be his sister, found out about his advances toward me and she wasn’t pleased.   

Zeus and Hera arranged for a mortal to marry me. One sunny day, I came out of the water to catch some rays and this guy named Peleus shows up with his centaur friend, Chiron.  Peleus grabs me and won’t let go.  I fought back, shape shifting into every animal in my arsenal but Peleus was too strong.  I had no choice, I reluctantly agreed to marry him.

I wondered who was this guy named Peleus and my sisters wondered too.  Through the seaweed vine we learned that Peleus and his brother Telamon murdered their stepbrother Phocus.  They were banished, of course, and a kindly uncle, Eurytion of Phthia, not only took them in, but allowed Peleus to marry his daughter, Antigone.  Eurytion also gave Peleus a great deal of his land.  To show his gratitude, Peleus “accidently” killed Eurytion on a boar hunt. 

Peleus took his wife and went to Iolcus, newly under the rule of King Acastus.  The King’s wife, Astydamia, took a liking to Peleus but he rejected her. Queens don’t like to be rejected, for any reason.  Anyway, Astydemeia said something to Peleus’ wife, Antigone, and Antigone killed herself.  I’d really like to know what the Hades that Astydemia said.  Peleus was angry so, he killed Astydemeia.  After Antigone’s death, Peleus married two more times to Plydora and Andromeda.  I didn’t bother learning the details of these marriages.  I already knew more than I wanted to know. 

Now that I was to be married, Hera became all friendly toward me again. She wanted to do something special for the wedding so she invited all of the Gods. Eris, who can only be described as the goddess of friction, came too.  I knew she had something up her sleeve when I saw her roll a golden apple across the floor.  I learned later that there was an inscription on the apple, something about it being for whomever was the most beautiful.  Right away all the prima donnas in the room start fighting. 

I don’t know exactly what happened next but in a flash Hermes, our messenger god, gathered up these “ladies” and off they went to Mount Ida.  Apparently, some Trojan Prince, who thought he was the son of a farmer, was to determine which goddess should have the apple. Remember how I said queens don’t like to be rejected?  Well, goddesses like it even less and they have some nasty, powerful ways of expressing their displeasure.  Ultimately, Aphrodite bribed this prince/farmer by promising him the hand of Helen, “the most beautiful woman in Greece”.  Now really, how could he resist? He handed the apple to Aphrodite and a war was born.

Peleus and I had several children.  I hoped beyond hope that they would be immortal, like me. However, they all died when I tried to take them into my ocean home.  When Achilles was born, Peleus refused to allow me to take him in the water.  I understood.  Baptism by fire would certainly make Achilles immortal but, just about the time the fire got really hot, Peleus stepped in again and threw me out of the house.  Now, you know that can’t last, who’s going to feed the kid?

One day, when Peleus was out, doing whatever murdering kidnappers do in their spare time, I took Achilles down, way down, and dipped him into the river Styx.  Now, I really wanted him to live and to live forever, so I held on real tight to his little heel to make sure he didn’t drown.  I was successful or at least mostly successful.  

As far as my “marriage” goes, Peleus took up with this guy named Jason and his group of miscreants called the Argonauts.  At one point, my sisters and I saved them all from crashing on some rocks.  Ultimately, Peleus and I separated and I gladly returned to the sea. 

I’m rather tired, so that’s all for now.