Nerites (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nerites was a minor sea deity, son of Nereus and Doris (apparently their only male offspring) and brother of the fifty Nereids. He is described as a young boy of stunning beauty.
According to Aelian,[1] Nerites was never mentioned by epic poets such as Homer and Hesiod, but was a common figure in the mariners' folklore. Aelian also cites two versions of the myth concerning Nerites, which are as follows.
Nerites was loved by Poseidon and answered his feelings. From their mutual love arose Anteros (personification of reciprocated love). Poseidon also made Nerites his charioteer; the boy drove the chariot astonishingly fast, to the admiration of various sea creatures. But Helios, for reasons unknown to Aelian's sources, changed Nerites into a shellfish. Aelian himself supposes that Helios might have wanted the boy for himself and was offended by his refusal. Like the first version, Nerea his sister, found him and begged Poseidon to give him back to his normal form. Poseidon took pity on her and returned to its original shape to Nerites.
See also
- Nerite, a family of sea snails named after this deity
References
- ↑ Aelian, On Animals, 14. 28
