InGreek mythology,Glaucus (/ˈɡlɔːkəs/;Ancient Greek:Γλαῦκος,romanized: Glaûkos,lit. 'glimmering') was aGreek propheticsea-god, born mortal and turned immortal upon eating a magical herb. It was believed that he came to the rescue of sailors and fishermen in storms, having earlier earned a living from the sea himself.
The story of Glaucus'sapotheosis was dealt with in detail byOvid inMetamorphoses and briefly referenced by many other authors.[7][8][9][10][11][12] According to Ovid, Glaucus began his life as a mortalfisherman living in theBoeotian city ofAnthedon.[13] He found a magical herb which could bring the fish he caught back to life, and decided to try eating it. The herb made him immortal, but also caused him to grow fins instead of arms and a fish's tail instead of legs (though some versions say he simply became amerman-like being),[14] forcing him to dwell forever in the sea. Glaucus was initially upset by this side-effect, butOceanus andTethys received him well and he was quickly accepted among the deities of the sea, learning from them the art ofprophecy.
John Tzetzes adds to the above story that Glaucus became "immortal, but not immune to aging".[15]
In an alternate, non-extant version cited inAthenaeus (with reference toNicander'sAetolian History), Glaucus chased a hare on Mount Oreia until the animal fell down almost dead, then carried his prey to a spring and rubbed it with a bunch of grass that was growing about. The herb brought the hare back to life. Glaucus then tasted it himself and fell into a state of "divine madness", in which state Zeus made him fling himself into the stormy sea.[6]
Athenaeus also informs that in yet another version followed by Possis of Magnesia, Glaucus (rather thanArgus) was the builder and the pilot ofArgo. During a naval battle between the Argonauts and theEtruscans, he fell into the sea and by the will ofZeus became a sea god.[6]
Alexander of Aetolia, cited in Athenaeus, related that the magical herb grew on the islandThrinacia sacred toHelios and served as a remedy against fatigue for the sun god's horses.Aeschrion of Samos informed that it was known as the "dog's-tooth" and was believed to have been sown byCronus.[6]
Athenaeus, referring toAristotle'snon-extantConstitution of Delos, related that Glaucus settled inDelos together with theNereids and would give prophecies to whoever asked for them. He also mentions, this time with reference to Nicander, thatApollo was believed to have learned the art of prophecy from Glaucus.[6]
An encounter of Glaucus with the Argonauts was described byDiodorus Siculus[16] andPhilostratus the Elder.[17] When the Argonauts were caught in a storm,Orpheus addressed theCabeiroi with prayer; the wind ceased, and Glaucus appeared. He followed the Argo for two days and prophesied toHeracles and theDioscuri their future adventures and eventual deification. He addressed other members of the crew individually as well, especially noting that he was sent to them thanks to Orpheus's prayer, and instructing them to further pray to the Cabeiroi. InApollonius Rhodius's version, Glaucus appeared at the point whenTelamon quarreled withJason over Heracles andPolyphemus being left behind on the coast ofBithynia whereHylas had been lost. Glaucus reconciled the two by letting them know that it had been ordained for Heracles to return toEurystheus's court and complete hisTwelve Labours, and for Polyphemus to foundCius, while Hylas had been abducted by anymph and married her.[18] Cf. also above for the version that made Glaucus an Argonaut himself.
InEuripides's playOrestes, Glaucus appeared in front ofMenelaus on the latter's voyage home, announcing to him the death of his brotherAgamemnon by the hand ofClytaemnestra.[19]
According to Ovid andHyginus, Glaucus fell in love with the beautifulnymphScylla and wanted her for his wife, but she was appalled by his fish-like features and fled onto land when he tried to approach her. He asked the witchCirce for a potion to make Scylla fall in love with him, but Circe fell in love with him instead. She tried to win his heart with her most passionate and loving words, telling him to scorn Scylla and stay with her. But he replied that trees would grow on the ocean floor and seaweed would grow on the highest mountain before he would stop loving Scylla. In her anger, Circe poisoned the pool where Scylla bathed, transforming her into a terrible monster with twelve feet and six heads.[20][21]
Euanthes and Theolytus of Methymna also recorded an affair between Glaucus andAriadne: according to Athenaeus who cites these authors, Glaucus seduced Ariadne as she was abandoned byTheseus on Dia (Naxos).Dionysus then fought Glaucus over Ariadne and overpowered him, binding his hands and feet with grape vines; he, however, released Glaucus when the latter disclosed his own name and origin.[6]
According toMnaseas, cited by Athenaeus in hisDeipnosophistae, Glaucus named the island ofSyme afterhis wife, when they settled the island; according to Aeschrion of Samos, Glaucus was the lover of the semi-historicalHydne.[6]
Glaucus was reported to have had male lovers as well: Nicander inEuropia mentioned Nereus as one, whileHedylus of Samos (or Athens) wrote that it was out of love forMelicertes that Glaucus threw himself into the sea. Yet according toNicanor of Cyrene'sChange of Names, Glaucus and the deified Melicertes were one and the same.[6]
It is not known if Glaucus had any children, butPausanias mentionsGlaucus of Carystus as an alleged descendant of Glaucus the sea god.[22]Virgil seems to indicate theCumaean Sibyl, Deiphobe, as a daughter of Glaucus.[23]
Aeschylus wrote a play on Glaucus, entitledGlaucus Pontius ("Glaucus of the Sea"), nowlost.[24] A work entitledGlaucus also belonged toCallimachus[25] (it is unclear though which Glaucus was its subject).
In Book X of Plato's Republic (611C-D) where a mangled, wave-battered body of Glaucus, crusted with sea weeds, rocks, and barnacles, is likened to a soul plagued by all kinds of evil.
The Roman authorVelleius Paterculus made mention of Plancus, who performed in the role of Glaucus at a feast.[26]
Pausanias,Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918.Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
