Editing Oceanus (section)

==Mythology==

[[File:München — Staatliche Antikensammlungen — 2013-05-12 Mattes (16).JPG|thumb|left|Oceanus-faced [[gargoyle]], originally from [[Treuchtlingen]], [[Bavaria]], now at the [[Staatliche Antikensammlungen]], [[Munich]]]]

When Cronus, the youngest of the Titans, overthrew his father [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]], thereby becoming the ruler of the cosmos, according to Hesiod, none of the other Titans participated in the attack on Uranus.<ref>[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0020.tlg001.perseus-eng1:139-172 165&ndash;181].</ref> However, according to the mythographer [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], all the Titans&mdash;except Oceanus&mdash;attacked Uranus.<ref>Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA37 p. 37]; [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:1.1.4 1.1.4].</ref> [[Proclus]], in his commentary on Plato's ''Timaeus'', quotes several lines of a poem (probably Orphic) which has an angry Oceanus brooding aloud as to whether he should join Cronus and the other Titans in the attack on Uranus. And, according to Proclus, Oceanus did not in fact take part in the attack.<ref>Gantz, pp. 12, 28; West 1983, p. 130; Orphic fr. 135 Kern.</ref>

Oceanus seemingly also did not join the Titans in the ''[[Titanomachy]]'', the great war between Cronus and his fellow Titans, and [[Zeus]] and his fellow [[Twelve Olympians|Olympians]], for control of the cosmos; and following the war, although Cronus and the other Titans were imprisoned, Oceanus certainly seems to have remained free.<ref>Fowler 2013, [https://books.google.com/books?id=scd8AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 p. 11]; Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA37 p. 37]; Gantz, pp. 28, 46; West 1983, p. 119.</ref> In Hesiod, Oceanus sends his daughter [[Styx]], with her children [[Zelus]] (Envy), [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] (Victory), [[Cratos]] (Power), and [[Bia (mythology)|Bia]] (Force), to fight on Zeus' side against the Titans,<ref>Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA37 p. 37]; Gantz, p. 28; [[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0020.tlg001.perseus-eng1:371-403 337&ndash;398]. The translations of the names used here follow Caldwell, p. 8.</ref> And in the ''Iliad'', Hera says that during the war she was sent to Oceanus and Tethys for safekeeping.<ref>Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA40 p. 40]; Gantz, p. 11; [[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.perseus-eng1:14.193-14.241 14.200&ndash;204].</ref>

Sometime after the war, [[Aeschylus]]' ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'', has Oceanus visit his nephew the enchained [[Prometheus]], who is being punished by Zeus for his theft of fire.<ref>Gantz, p. 28; Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA40 p. 40]; [[Aeschylus]] (?), ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-eng1:279-299 286&ndash;398].</ref> Oceanus arrives riding a winged steed,<ref>[[Aeschylus]] (?), ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-eng1:279-299 286&ndash;289], [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-eng1:379-398 395] (which describes the beast as "four-footed"). Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA40 p. 40] suggests that Oceanus' steed is a griffin or griffin-like, while Gantz, p. 28, suggests griffin or hippocamp.</ref> saying that he is sympathetic to Prometheus' plight and wishes to help him if he can.<ref>[[Aeschylus]] (?), ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-eng1:279-299 290&ndash;299].</ref> But Prometheus mocks Oceanus, asking him: "How did you summon courage to quit the stream that bears your name and the rock-roofed caves you yourself have made ..."<ref>[[Aeschylus]] (?), ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-eng1:300-331 301&ndash;303].</ref> Oceanus advises Prometheus to humble himself before the new ruler Zeus, and so avoid making his situation any worse. But Prometheus replies: "I envy you because you have escaped blame for having dared to share with me in my troubles."<ref>[[Aeschylus]] (?), ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0085.tlg003.perseus-eng1:332-342 332&ndash;333].</ref>

According to [[Pherecydes of Athens|Pherecydes]], while [[Heracles]] was travelling in [[Helios]]'s golden cup, on his way to [[Erytheia]] to fetch the cattle of [[Geryon]], Oceanus challenged Heracles by sending high waves rocking the cup, but Heracles threatened to shoot Oceanus with his bow, and Oceanus in fear stopped.<ref>Gantz, p. 404; Frazer's note 7 to [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Apollodorus]] [http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-eng1:2.5.10 2.5.10]; Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA40 p. 40].</ref>