Glaucus and the Sea
Glaucus was a mortal fisherman who became a prophetic sea deity after eating a magical herb that revealed its divine properties.
The Story
Glaucus was originally a mortal fisherman associated with the sea.
According to the best-known tradition, Glaucus discovered a mysterious herb whose properties caused the fish he caught to return to the sea.
Curious about the plant, he tasted it himself.
The herb transformed him and drew him into the divine world of the sea. Glaucus became a prophetic marine deity, associated with sailors, fishermen and knowledge of events hidden beneath the surface of the sea.
As a sea god he was later imagined as an ancient and knowledgeable figure capable of giving prophecies.
Glaucus therefore occupies an unusual position in Greek mythology: unlike the primordial sea gods, he began as a mortal before becoming divine.
He should also be distinguished from Glaucus of Corinth and Glaucus of Lycia, two completely different mythological figures.
Key Figures
Why It Matters
Glaucus is an unusual example of a mortal becoming a sea deity and should be distinguished from the heroic figures who share his name.