Meet the Gods: Triton

 

 

The son of the God and Goddess of the sea, Poseidon and Amphitrite, Triton (“try-ton”) is a demigod of the sea. A mighty merman, stories tell of him living with his parents in a golden palace deep in the sea. Because Poseidon fathered many children outside of marriage with both mortals and goddesses, Triton has as many as fifty half-siblings.

Triton is said to be the father and leader of three thousand mermaids and three thousand tritons – creatures who were male or female with matted green hair who escorted the marine divinities wherever they wanted to go.

“Their entire body was covered with tiny scales, and they had gills behind their ears. Their mouths were wider than that of a normal human, and their teeth were sharp and beast-like. They had sea-blue eyes that were dark and menacing, and their fingernails were as sharp and strong as a seashell. Instead of legs, they had a tail similar to that of a dolphin beneath their belly. It is said that Triton spawned the entire race of these beings,” according to a 2017 post in Greek Gods and Goddesses.

 

 

The conch shell is one of his symbols. When he blew it like a trumpet, he could enrage or calm the sea. The sound would scare away the enemy giants who thought wild animals were closing in on them.

“Akin to his ancestor Nereus, the old man of the sea, he possessed the gift of prophecy. Like his father Poseidon, Triton was powerful and carried a trident [a three-pronged spear],” according to mythology.net.

In Greek art, he is depicted as a fish-tailed merman, often times with a beard, other times youthful. Sometimes he had a double-fish or dolphin tail, a pair of horns made of crab claws, and skin with a green ting. His shoulders were covered with shells and barnacles.

Like all gods, Triton is immortal and does not age. As a merman, he can breathe underwater and swim very fast.

 

 

Triton was mainly known as his father’s messenger. No temples were dedicated to him and he was not widely worshipped. When I am by the ocean, I often think of him. A collection of seaweed, shells, driftwood, and coral in a pleasing arrangement is one way I honor mermen and mermaids. I would also call on him because he is less temperamental than his father, and have him call upon his father, for safe travel by sea, quieting a storm, catching fish, and for giving thanks for treasures gifted me by the sea. If not by the ocean, I would use a bowl of salt water as the center of a shrine on my altar for gratitude and petitions.

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About the Author:

Lynn Woike

thewitchonwheels.com

All my life I have known magic was real. As a child, I played with the fae, established relationships with trees and “just knew things.” In my maiden years I discovered witchcraft and dabbled in the black-candles-and-cemeteries-at-midnight-on-a-fullmoon magick just enough to realize I did not understand its power. I went on to explore many practices including Zen, astrology, color therapy, native traditions, tarot, herbs, candle magic, gems, and, as I moved into my mother years, Buddhism, the Kabbalah and Reiki. The first man I dated after my divorce was a witch who reintroduced me to the Craft, this time by way of the Goddess. For 11 years I was in a coven, but with retirement, I have returned to an eclectic solitary practice. When accepting the mantle of crone, I pledged to serve and teach. This is what I do from my skoolie – a 30-year-old school bus converted into a tiny house on wheels that I am driving around the country, following 72-degree weather, emerging myself into nature, and sharing magic with those I meet. Find me at thewitchonwheels.com, Facebook and Instagram.