Amphitrite

Loud Moaning

ORIGIN:

Greek

The great goddess Amphitrite is the mistress and owner of the Mediterranean. Poseidon saw her dancing with the Nereids on the isle of Naxos and raped her. He then wanted to marry her, making the relationship permanent. She fled to the western end of her territory, allegedly taking shelter with Atlas or Oceanus, who may be her father.

Delphin, a dolphin spirit, spied on her, revealing her hiding place to Poseidon, who begged her to marry him. Ultimately it was the dolphin who persuaded her to emerge. As her consort, Poseidon is King of the Sea. Their marriage is ambivalent. Like Zeus, Poseidon is perpetually unfaithful. Unlike Hera, Amphi trite takes this in stride. (In many ways, Amphitrite is the watery counterpart of Hera. Crabs are sacred to both goddesses.) Amphi trite does not spend much time on Olympus, preferring to stay in her own realm.

Petition Amphitrite for safety on the sea, prosperity, abundance, and true love. She has powers of healing and fertility and access to all the treasures of the sea. She may be invoked to punish unfaithful and/or abusive spouses as well as rapists.

MANIFESTATION:

A beautiful woman with an elaborate hairdo. She may wear a hairnet and lavish jewelry (As befitting someone who spends most of her time in water, she doesn’t usually wear a lot of clothes.) She may sport horns in the form of crab claws and/or wear a crab headdress.

ICONOGRAPHY:

Amphitrite often holds one hand in a pinching gesture, like a crab.

ATTRIBUTE:

Golden spindle

Realm: Amphitrite lives in a golden palace at the bottom of the sea.

Sacred animals:

Technically all sea creatures but especially crustaceans, fish, seals, and dolphins; a crab serves as her messenger.

Number:

3

SEE ALSO:

Amymone; Ariadne; Atlas; Delphin; Hera; Nereid; Oceanus; Poseidon; Scylla; Triton; Zeus

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.