Pontus

Pontus
Pontus in an ancient Roman mosaic in Tunisia
Primordial God of the Sea
General Information
Species	God
Aliases	Pontus Pontos
Titles	Father Sea
Relationships
Parents	Gaia (Hesiod's Theogony) Ether and Terra (Hyginus' Fabulae)
Siblings	Full Siblings Uranus, the Ourea, the Nesoi Half-Sibling the Titans, the Hecatoncheires, the Cyclopes, the Gigantes, the Meliae, the Erinyes, Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, Eurybia, Typhon, Erichthonius
Consorts	Gaia
Spouses	Thalassa/Mare
Children	By Gaia Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, and Eurybia By Mare The Fishes
Grandchildren	By Nereus Nerites, the Nereids By Thaumas Iris, Arke, the Harpies By Phorcys the Hesperides, Thoosa, Scylla, the Sirens By Ceto the Gorgons, the Graeae, Echidna, Ladon By Eurybia Astraeus, Perses, Pallas
Affiliation	Protogenoi

Pontos or Pontus (Ancient Greek: Πόντος), was the Protogenos god of the Sea. He is the father of most ancient sea gods. His name literally means "sea". His consort is Thalassa, whose name also literally means "sea", but is believed to be derived from a pre-Greek root. In Roman mythology his name stays the same and his mate is Mare.

Mythology

Greek Mythology

“	She [Gaia] bore also the fruitless deep with his raging swell, Pontus, without sweet union of love.	”
–Theogony (130), Hesiod

“	And Pontus begat Nereus, the eldest of his children, who is true and lies not: and men call him the Old Man because he is trusty and gentle and does not forget the laws of righteousness, but thinks just and kindly thoughts. And yet again he got great Thaumas and proud Phorcys, being mated with Gaia, and fair-cheeked Ceto and Eurybia who has a heart of flint within her.	”
–Theogony (231-239), Hesiod

In line 130 and 231–239 of Hesiod's Theogony he states that Pontus is the son of Gaia via parthenogenesis and he is the father of Nereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, Ceto, Eurybia by Gaia.

Roman Mythology

“	Ex Aethere et Terra Dolor Dolus Ira Luctus Mendacium Iusiurandum Ultio Intemperantia Altercatio Oblivio Socordia Timor Superbia Incestum Pugna Oceanus Themis Tartarus Pontus; et Titanes, Briareus Gyges Steropes Atlas Hyperion et Polus, Saturnus Ops Moneta Dione; Furiae tres, id est Alecto Megaera Tisiphone.	”
–Fabulae, Hyginus

In English it states: "From Ether and Terra: Grief, Deceit, Wrath, Lamentation, Falsehood, Oath, Vengeance, Intemperance, Altercation, Forgetfulness, Sloth, Fear, Pride, Incest, Combat, Oceanus, Themis, Tartarus, Pontus; and the Titans, Briareus, Gyges, Steropes, Atlas, Hyperion, and Polus, Saturn, Ops, Moneta, Dione; and three Furies – namely, Alecto, Megaera, Tisiphone."

“	Ex Ponto et Mari piscium genera.	”
–Fabulae, Hyginus

In English it states: "From Pontus and Mare birthed the fishes".

Pontus, rising from seaweed, grasps a rudder with his right hand and leans on the prow of a ship. He wears a mural crown, and accompanies Fortuna, whose draperies appear at the left, as twin patron deities of the Black Sea port of Tomis in Moesia. (Roman, 2nd century CE)

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