Thetis

Thetis’ background:Her father was a sea God Nereus

Mother DorisShe had 40 children

Her mortal husband was PeleusBoth Zeus and Poseidon wanted to marry

her but when Themis prophesized that her son would be stronger than them both, they considered it wiser to give her to a

mortal.

She was a sea nymph known as the Goddess of water.

She was one of the earliest of Deides (to be worshipped.

There is evidence that she played a more central role in the religious beliefs and

practices of archaic Greece.There is a hymn that identifies Thetis as

the creator of the universe.

Origin of the Trojan war:According to myth, it was at her wedding

that the Trojan war became an issue:They had invited all the gods except the

Goddess of arguments and misunderstandings, iris, and she took her revenge by throwing a golden apple with

the inscription “to the most beautiful” into the party, resulting in an argument

between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite

Achilles:Thetis made Achilles immortal by holding him as a baby over a fire or into the river

Styx. Because she held him by his heel, that was the only mortal part of him. She would

often help Achilles with advice and warnings. Prophesy said that the son of

Thetis would have either a long dull life or a glorious but brief life so as Thetis knew that her son was going to die young she granted his every wish and tried to keep

him happy. When Achilles was killed by Paris, Thetis came from the sea with the Nereids to mourn him. She collected his

ashes in a golden urn, raised a monument in his memory and instituted

commemorative festivals.https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=uLB5kOuktdU

Why did Zeus owe Thetis a favour?

When Zeus was imprisoned by other Gods and Goddesses (Hera, Poseidon

and Athena) Thetis ordered Briareus son of Poseidon who was a hundred handed monster, to the top of Mount Olympus, so that he would terrify the other Gods

so they would release the chains restraining Zeus.

Quotations“Since destiny has given you so short a

life, no time at all”“An evil destiny that I brought you into

the world”“I am convinced he will do what I ask”“Father Zeus, if ever I have served you well among the Gods by word or deed”“No other God is less respected than I

am”