Nilus (mythology)

Nilus or Neilos
River God of the Nile
Member of the Potamoi
Abode River Nile in Egypt itself
Personal information
Consort Nephele, Callirhoe
Offspring Achiroe, Memphis, Telephassa, Chione, Anippe, Caliadne (possibly), Polyxo (possibly)
Parents Oceanus and Tethys
Siblings Potamoi and Oceanides

Nilus /ˈniːlʊs/ or Neilos (Ancient Greek: Νειλος or Νεῖλόν), in Greek mythology, was one of the Potamoi, children of Oceanus and Tethys.[1][2] He represented the god of the Nile river itself and was father to several children. Of these included Memphis[3] (mother of Libya by Epaphus a king of Egypt), as well as a son named Nilus Ankhmemiphis (the father of Anchinoe and Telephassa).

His granddaughter Libya in turn became mother to Belus and Agenor. These sons then married (presumably) younger daughters of his son Nilus named Anchiroe[4] and Telephassa respectively. A daughter Chione[5] was said to be borne to Nilus and Callirhoe, an Oceanid. His other children include: Argiope,[6] Anippe,[7] Eurryroe and Europa[8] and (possibly) Caliadne and Polyxo.

Nilus' Family

Parentage

"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."

Offspring

"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.]

  • Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca:

"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."

  • Pseudo-Plutarch, Greek and Roman Parallel Stories:

"Bousiris (Busiris), the son of Poseidon and Anippe, daughter of Neilos . . . So says Agathon of Samos."

  • Tzetzes, Chiliades:

"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,..."

References

  1. ↑ Hesiod. Theogony 337 ff with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914.
  2. ↑ Hyginus. Fabulae Preface translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies, no. 34. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960.
  3. ↑ Apollodorus, The Library Book 2.1.4, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921.
  4. ↑ Apollodorus, The Library, Book 2.1.4 with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921
  5. ↑ Maurus Servius Honoratus, Commentary on the Aeneid of Vergil Book 4.250. Edited by Georgius Thilo.
  6. ↑ Cited in scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 3. 1186
  7. ↑ Plutarch, Parallela minora 38. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 5.
  8. ↑ Tzetzes, Chiliades Book 7 (12th century). Translated by Vasiliki Dogani
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