Sea deity with the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish, sometimes also as an ichthyocentaur with the forelegs of a horse (Tzetz. Lycophr. 34; 886), son of Poseidon and Amphitrite (Hes. Theog. 930-933), who stirs up the waters with his conch shell and calms them again (Verg. Aen. 10,209-212; Ov. Met. 1,330-342). Like the related sea gods Glaucus [1], Halios geron, Nereus, Phorcys [1] and Proteus, T. in particular is a figure of literature…
Cite this page
Ambühl, Annemarie (Groningen) and
Huß, Werner (Bamberg),
“Triton”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 18 January 2021 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1221040>