The Story of Glaucus
Glaucus was a sea god who began life as a mortal fisherman from Anthedon in Boeotia. One day he laid his catch on a strange patch of grass and watched in amazement as the fish came back to life and slipped back into the sea. Curious, he chewed some of the herb himself.
At once he felt an irresistible longing for the water and plunged into the waves. In Ovid's telling, the sea gods welcomed him, and Oceanus and Tethys washed away his mortal nature with the waters of a hundred rivers. He rose up as a sea god with a green beard, broad shoulders and the tail of a fish, and with the gift of prophecy.
Glaucus fell in love with the beautiful nymph Scylla, but she ran from him in fear of his strange form. He went to the sorceress Circe and asked for a love potion to win her. Circe wanted Glaucus for herself, and when he refused her, she poisoned the pool where Scylla bathed, turning her into a terrible monster with barking dogs around her waist.
Glaucus also appeared to the Argonauts. When the crew left Heracles behind and began to quarrel over it, Glaucus rose from the sea and told them it was the will of Zeus that Heracles stay behind to finish his own labors. His words ended the argument, and the Argo sailed on.
Sailors and fishermen honored Glaucus and listened for his prophecies, and people said he visited coasts and islands each year to foretell the future. The philosopher Plato compared the human soul to Glaucus, whose true form had been hidden under shells, seaweed and rocks after long years in the sea. He remains one of the most memorable of the minor sea gods.
Famous Myths About Glaucus
The Magic Herb
Glaucus was a fisherman who noticed his catch come back to life after touching a strange herb. He tasted the herb himself, felt an irresistible urge to plunge into the sea, and was transformed into a sea god.
Glaucus and Scylla
Glaucus fell in love with the nymph Scylla, but she rejected him. He asked Circe for a love potion, but Circe wanted him for herself and poisoned Scylla's bathing pool, turning her into a monster.
Prophecy to the Argonauts
When Heracles was left behind by the Argonauts, the crew began to argue. Glaucus rose from the sea and told them it was the will of Zeus, ending the quarrel.
Glaucus's Family Tree
Parents of Glaucus
Partners of Glaucus
Children of Glaucus
Frequently Asked Questions About Glaucus
Who is Glaucus in Greek mythology?
Glaucus is a sea god of fishermen and sea prophecy who was once a mortal fisherman.
How did Glaucus become a sea god?
Glaucus noticed that the fish he caught came back to life after touching a certain herb. When he ate it himself, he leapt into the sea and the sea gods made him immortal.
What is the story of Glaucus and Scylla?
Glaucus loved the nymph Scylla and asked the witch Circe for a love potion. Circe, who loved Glaucus herself, poisoned Scylla's bathing water and turned her into a monster.
