THE MYTH OF THETIS

In Greek mythology, Nereus and Doris were the parents of the fifty Nereids. These beautiful women were always friendly and helpful towards sailors fighting perilous storms. The most celebrated one was Thetis, the mother of Achilles. Nereus was distinguished for his knowledge, and his love of truth and justice, and is described as the wise and unerring Old Man of the Sea. The gift of prophecy was also ascribed to him.

Thetis was a Goddess of the sea. She was so beautiful that Jupiter himself sought her in marriage; but having learned from Prometheus the Titan, that Thetis should bear a son who should be greater than his father, Jupiter desisted from his suit and decreed that Thetis should be the wife of a mortal. By the aid of Chiron the Centaur, Peleus succeeded in winning the goddess for his bride, and their son was the renowned Achilles. To protect her son in battle, Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx. As she immersed him, she held him by one heel. Therefore, the place where she held him remained untouched by the magic water of the Styx and that part stayed vulnerable.

For a sailor it is good to have Thetis as a friend and wise to know that everybody has his vulnerability!