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Greek Mythology > Immortals > Styx

Styx   STIX

• The Oath River
• An Okeanid
• Styx in The Iliad (reference)
• Styx in The Odyssey (reference)
• How to Cite this Page

The Oath River

The daughter of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys, Styx was the eldest of Okeanos’ three thousand daughters. (Theogony, line 364)

When Zeus was at war with the Titans, he promised that any god who fought on his side would retain their power and position, and those without power or position under Kronos (Cronos), would be rewarded justly (Theogony, line 390). Styx, with her children, were the first to stand with Zeus. She later became known as The Oath River.

Loathed by the Immortals, Styx makes her home in the underworld.

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An Okeanid

Although she is called The Oath River, Styx is actually an Okeanid, i.e. one of the three thousand daughters of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys. The Okeanids and the Rivers are of the same parents but the Okeanids are said to be a Race Apart or a Holy Company. Zeus gave the Okeanids, Apollon and the Rivers the special obligation of having the young in their keeping. Styx is called The Hateful because she is the body of water in the Underworld over which the souls of the dead are ferried by Kharon (Charon) and by which the Immortals swear their most solemn oaths. When a dispute erupts on Mount Olympos (Olympus), Zeus will send wind-footed Iris to Styx for a pitcher of water. Any Immortal who pours the waters of Styx, and swears an oath, is solemnly bound to tell only the truth. The punishment for breaking such an oath is one year without ambrosia, nectar or AIR! If that’s not enough, for nine additional years, the oath-breaker is not allowed to attend the festivals or share the company of the other Immortals. (Theogony, line 793)

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Styx in The Iliad (listed by book and line)

• 02.755 ...The river Titaressos (Titaressus) is a branch of Styx, the fearful Oath River, and flows across the silver eddies of the river Peneios (Peneius) without mingling his waters
• 08.369 ...Athene (Athena) tells Hera how she rescued Herakles (Heracles) and saved him from the Stygian water
• 14.271 ...Hera swears on the River Styx that she will give Hypnos (Sleep) Pasithea, one of the younger Graces, in marriage if he will help her trick Zeus
• 15.037 ...Hera swears to Zeus, by heaven, earth and the water of Styx, that Poseidon entered the battle between the Trojans and Danaans without her prompting

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Styx in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)

• 05.185 ...Kalypso (Calypso) swears to Odysseus on the water of Styx that she will allow him to leave her island
• 10.514 ...Kirke (Circe) tells Odysseus that the river Kokytos (Cocytus) is an off-shoot of Styx

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