Theia (Oceanid)

This article is about a nymph in Greek mythology. For the goddess in Greek mythology, see Theia. For the planet hypothesized to have created the Moon, see Theia (planet). For other uses, see Theia (disambiguation).

In Greek mythology, Theia (/ˈθiːə/; Ancient Greek: Θεία, romanized: Theía, lit. 'divine', also rendered Thea or Thia) is one of the three thousand Oceanid nymphs, daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, and the mother of the Cercopes. She is not to be confused with Theia, sister to Oceanus and Tethys and mother of Helios, Selene and Eos.

Mythology

The Oceanid nymph^[1] Theia became the mother of the Cercopes,^[2][3] two mischievous impish thieves, by her own father Oceanus.^[4] When her sons stole from the hero Heracles, he seized and bound them and was about to kill them; Theia begged him to let her sons go.^[5] They were then transformed into either monkeys or stone.^[4]

See also

• List of Oceanids
• Niobe
• Leto

Notes

1. Tzetzes ad Lycophron, 91
2. Fowler 2013, p. 323.
3. Worthen 1991, p. p. 141.
4. "Cercopes." Suda On Line. Tr. Jennifer Benedict. 11 April 2009
5. Suda, s.v. Ἀγορὰ Κερκώπων

References

• Fowler, Robert L (2013). Early Greek Mythography. Vol. 2: Commentary. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198147411.
• Tzetzes, John, Lycophronis Alexandra. Vol. II: Scholia Continens, edited by Eduard Scheer, Berlin, Weidmann, 1881. Internet Archive.
• Worthen, Thomas D. (1991). The Myth of Replacement: Stars, Gods, and Order in the Universe. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-816-51200-3.