Thaumante

In Greek mythology, Taumante or Taumas (in ancient Greek Θαύμας Thaúmas, 'wonder', 'miracle') was a god sailor, son of Gaea and Pontus, primordial god of the sea. His brothers were therefore Nereo, Phorcys, Ceto and Eurybia.

According to Hesiod, Thaumante took the oceanid Electra as his wife, and with her he fathered three daughters and at the same time swift fliers: Iris and the Harpies, Aelo and Ocípete. Other later authors already cite the Harpies as a triad and modify their names. Not in vain their daughters usually bear the patronymic of Taumantides or Taumantias , especially Iris (because of the spectacular colors). characters within mythology, other children outside the Hesiodic canon are also attributed to Thaumante, such as Arce or the Indian river god Hydaspes.

In an etymological exercise, Plato associates the name of Thaumante (Θαύμας) with θαῦμα, that is, the “wonders (of the sea)”.