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Thaumas: Greek God of the Wonders of the Sea

Name: Thaumas

Type: Minor God

God of: Wonders of the Sea

Home or Realm: The Sea

Key Facts

Intro

Marvelous sea god who fathered Iris and the harpies with the ocean nymph Electra.

Thaumas: Greek God of the Wonders of the Sea

The Story of Thaumas


Thaumas was a sea god who stood for the wonders of the sea. He was a son of Pontus, the sea, and Gaia, the earth. His name means wonder or marvel.


Thaumas married Electra, a daughter of the Titan Oceanus, and they had remarkable children. Their daughter Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods. Their other daughters were the Harpies, swift winged spirits of the storm winds, whom Hesiod names as Aello and Ocypete.



Thaumas appears in no adventures of his own, but his children fit his name, since rainbows and sudden gusts of wind were among the marvels sailors saw at sea. The philosopher Plato noted that it was apt to call Iris the daughter of Thaumas, because philosophy begins in wonder. For the Greeks he was the dazzling side of the sea, as his brother Phorcys was its dark side.

Thaumas's Family Tree

Partners of Thaumas

Frequently Asked Questions About Thaumas


Who is Thaumas in Greek mythology?

Thaumas is a sea god of the wonders of the sea. His name means wonder.


Who are Thaumas's parents?

Thaumas is the son of Pontus, the sea, and Gaia, the earth.


Who are Thaumas's children?

With the Oceanid Electra, Thaumas fathered Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, and the Harpies.

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