Ichthyocentaurs
Encyclopedia
In Greek mythology
ichthyocentaurs (or ikhthyokentauroi) were a pair of centaur
ine sea-gods with the upper body of a man, the lower front of a horse, and the tail of a fish. Also, they wore lobster-claw horns. The two sea-gods were named Bythos ("Sea-Depths" or "Depth of Profundity") and Aphros ("Sea-Foam"). They were half-brothers of the wise centaur Chiron
and the sons of Poseidon
and the sea goddess Amphitrite
.
These two sea-gods, though little remembered, were set in the sky as the astronomical constellation Pisces
.
The twin ichthyocentaurs appear together in several works of art. A mosaic from Zeugma (Z10.1), depicting the birth of Aphrodite
, is inscribed with the names of the two, who are lifting the goddess' cockle
-shell out of the sea. Aphros was perhaps regarded as her foster-father, given their similarity in names. The two sea-gods also appear in a pair of matching sculptures (belonging to the Louvre and Vatican Museums
) depicting them carrying Seilen companions of the god Dionysus
, after his company was driven into the sea by King Lycurgus of Thrace.
The sea-centaurs were probably derived from the divine fish of Syrian mythology (possibly identified with Dagon
) that carried Astarte
ashore following her watery birth.
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
ichthyocentaurs (or ikhthyokentauroi) were a pair of centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
ine sea-gods with the upper body of a man, the lower front of a horse, and the tail of a fish. Also, they wore lobster-claw horns. The two sea-gods were named Bythos ("Sea-Depths" or "Depth of Profundity") and Aphros ("Sea-Foam"). They were half-brothers of the wise centaur Chiron
Chiron
In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur among his brethren.-History:Like the satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being wild and lusty, overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, given to violence when intoxicated, and generally uncultured delinquents...
and the sons of Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
and the sea goddess Amphitrite
Amphitrite
In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon. Under the influence of the Olympian pantheon, she became merely the consort of Poseidon, and was further diminished by poets to a symbolic representation of the sea...
.
These two sea-gods, though little remembered, were set in the sky as the astronomical constellation Pisces
Pisces
Pisces may refer to:*Pisces , a constellation*Pisces , an astrological sign*Fish , as an obsolete taxonomic term*OZ-09MMS Pisces, a fictional mecha in the Gundam Wing anime...
.
The twin ichthyocentaurs appear together in several works of art. A mosaic from Zeugma (Z10.1), depicting the birth of Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
, is inscribed with the names of the two, who are lifting the goddess' cockle
Cockle (bivalve)
Cockle is the common name for a group of small, edible, saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Cardiidae.Various species of cockles live in sandy sheltered beaches throughout the world....
-shell out of the sea. Aphros was perhaps regarded as her foster-father, given their similarity in names. The two sea-gods also appear in a pair of matching sculptures (belonging to the Louvre and Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums , in Viale Vaticano in Rome, inside the Vatican City, are among the greatest museums in the world, since they display works from the immense collection built up by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries, including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and...
) depicting them carrying Seilen companions of the god Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
, after his company was driven into the sea by King Lycurgus of Thrace.
The sea-centaurs were probably derived from the divine fish of Syrian mythology (possibly identified with Dagon
Dagon
Dagon was originally an Assyro-Babylonian fertility god who evolved into a major northwest Semitic god, reportedly of grain and fish and/or fishing...
) that carried Astarte
Astarte
Astarte is the Greek name of a goddess known throughout the Eastern Mediterranean from the Bronze Age to Classical times...
ashore following her watery birth.