In Greek mythology, Nilus (; Ancient Greek: Νεῖλος, romanized: Neilos; pronounced /ˈnaɪləs/, NYE-las or NEE-las) is one of 3,000 river gods, who represent the god of the Nile river itself. Nilus is the son of the water gods Oceanus and Tethys.
Contents
Family
Nilus was one of 3,000 river gods children of the Titans Oceanus and his sister-wife Tethys. He was father to several children, of these included Memphis (mother of Libya by Epaphus a king of Egypt).
His granddaughter Libya in turn became mother to Belus and Agenor. These sons then married (presumably) younger daughters of his son Nilus named Anchiroe and Telephassa, respectively. A daughter Chione was said to be borne to Nilus and Callirhoe, an Oceanid. His other children include: Argiope, Anippe, Eurryroe, Europa and possibly Caliadne, Polyxo and Thebe.
Mythology
Parentage
Hesiod, Theogony:
And Tethys bore to Ocean eddying rivers, Nilus, and Alpheus, and deep-swirling Eridanus.
Hyginus, Fabulae:
From Oceanus and Tethys [were born] the Oceanides . . . Of the same descent Rivers : Strymon, Nile, Euphrates, Tanais, Indus, Cephisus, Ismenus, Axenus, Achelous, Simoeis, Inachus, Alpheus, Thermodon, Scamandrus, Tigris, Maeandrus, Orontes.
Offspring
Apollodorus, Bibliotheca:
When Epaphos was ruler of the Aigyptians (Egyptians), he married Neilos' daughter Memphis, and in her honour founded the polis of Memphis, and fathered a daughter Libya. [N.B. Libya was the ancient Greek name for the continent of Africa.]
Apollodorus, Bibliotheca:
Belos (Belus) [grandson of Epaphos] remained to become king of Aigyptos (Egypt), and married Neilos' daughter Ankhinoe (Anchinoe), who gave him twin sons, Aigyptos (Aegyptus) and Danaus.
Pseudo-Plutarch, Greek and Roman Parallel Stories:
Bousiris (Busiris), the son of Poseidon and Anippe, daughter of Neilos ... So says Agathon of Samos.
Tzetzes, Chiliades:
Hippostratus says that Aegyptus has begotten only by Eurryroe,The daughter of Nilus, fifty sons;As well as Danaus has begotten all his daughters,By Europa, the daughter of Nilus,...