Rivers, lakes, swimming pools, fjords . . . these days, a demigod can’t jump into any body of water without bumping into a nereid, naiad, oceanid, or minor water god. For those who like to keep their feet firmly on the ground, you might be excused for your unfamiliarity with these beings. They are famously hard to gain a firm grasp on, after all.
But not all of these beings are entirely friendly. Learning more about the supernatural forces that live beneath the waves may one day prove useful and mean the difference between a clogged ear and a permanent address in the Marianas Trench.
From benevolent to dangerous, here’s a breakdown of all the underwater creatures they won’t teach you about in Marine Biology 101. As if we needed another excuse to never go into the water again.
Nereid: Danger Level 1 Out of 5
Daughters of the Greek god Nereus and the Oceanid Doris, the nereids are minor sea goddesses and water nymphs who spend most of their time helping sailors, fishers, and high school seniors in need. Cheerful and supportive, nereids willingly embrace their responsibilities as caretakers of the ocean. Sometimes they even volunteer to go above and beyond their duties, especially if doing so will grant them the favor of a certain trident-wielding god.
According to the latest census, exactly 50 nereids are currently swimming across the globe. You can typically identify them by their long hair and billowy dresses. A couple of nereids you might be familiar with are Amphitrite, goddess of the seas and wife of Poseidon, and Eudora, Percy Jackson’s current guidance counselor.
If you encounter a nereid in the wild, keep calm. You have absolutely nothing to fear from these beings. Except, of course, for the inevitable follow-up email that reads, “We hope you enjoyed your being rescued from a whirlpool experience. We would like to request your feedback via a 5-minute online survey. It really helps Poseidon to know that we’re doing a good job!”
Naiad: Danger Level 1.5 Out of 5
The freshwater equivalent of the Nereid, Naiads are the water nymphs who reside in fountains, springs, rivers, and lakes. Similar to Nereids, the Naiads are usually good-natured and willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who, uh, needs their boat pushed for a little extra speed.
We’re going to be honest here. Naiads spend most of their time just kind of hanging out and talking trash. Maybe this is because Naiads don’t technically work for Poseidon. Or maybe it’s because you don’t tend to find much life-threatening danger at the local marsh.
Or maybe it’s because most major rivers are protected by their own guardian god or goddess who keep their waters safe from polluters and people fishing without a permit. Whatever the reason for the Naiad’s easy-going nature, you can still count on them for any waterfall-related emergency you might encounter. You can also count on them to laugh at you if a leech falls out of your swimming trunks.
Merpeople: Danger Level 3 Out of 5
You may mostly associate merpeople with animated musicals and extremely impractical Halloween costumes. But the merpeople who reside in Poseidon’s underwater palace, Atlantis, are part of a rich and ancient culture. In many ways, they’re just like us!
Some merpeople are artisans, some are soldiers, some are merchants (no pun intended). Some mer-heroes even attend Camp Fish-Blood during the summer months. The only real differences between merpeople and land-people are that merpeople exclusively worship Poseidon, are trained to be fierce warriors adept in underwater combat, and probably taste delicious with some nice lemon glaze finishing sauce. But uh, don’t tell them we said that.
Oceanids and Potamoi: Danger Level 4 Out of 5
Oceanids and Potamoi are extremely powerful nymphs and the children of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. Each Oceanid and Potamos has been assigned to patronize a specific body of water, and some are more important than others.
You may be more familiar with the bodies of water that the Oceanids and Potamoi represent than the actual beings themselves. But always remember that underneath every important river and sea, there lies a powerful entity ready to pop out and defend it. Or at least deliver a vague and terrifying threat like something out of a twisted version of the “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland.
We’re talking about beings such as the intimidating goddess Styx, who resides over the River Styx. And Lethe, the Oceanid of the River Lethe. Not to mention Elisson, who protects the River . . . Elisson.
And who could forget Acheron? The god of—you guessed it—the River Acheron. Okay, so their names aren’t very imaginative or impressive. But the immense power of these beings, their immortality, and their connections to the major gods and goddesses (often through marriage) are reasons enough to respect their authority.
Although, if you are sailing down the River Styx, the River Acheron, or any other river in the underworld, you really have no reason to fear an Oceanid or Potamos. You might as well just sit back and enjoy the ride. Scary as these beings are, the real danger comes from what’s waiting for you on the other side.
Water Titans, Gods, and Goddesses: Danger Level 5 Out of 5
Poseidon. Neptune. Oceanus. Tethys. Keto. Phorcys.
These are beings for whom the great white shark is no deadlier than a teddy bear. Beings who can bring about untold destruction and devastation with the wave of a hand. The progenitors of nigh-indestructible terrors of the deep such as Scylla and Charybdis.
What more needs to be said about these Titans, gods, and goddesses? They share dominion over 71% of the earth and can only be challenged by their equally powerful family members.
But the average random individual beachgoer has nothing to worry about from these divine beings. Unless one of your parents has been staring wistfully out into the ocean and reminiscing about a tall, dark stranger from their past who wore a very stylish Hawaiian shirt.
In that case, we hope it’s not too late for you to find a Father’s Day gift! You don’t want your long-lost aqua dad to consider you a total washout.