Amphitrite is a minor Greek goddess, one of several who ruled the seas. Originally, she was known as the wife of sea-god Poseidon, but over time, she was set aside as merely his mistress.

A beautiful goddess, she was the daughter of Nereus, a minor sea god, and Doris, a sea nymph. And ancient Greek poet wrote that Poseidon saw her dancing and fell in love with her. Being a king, he assumed that he could just carry her off, but she escaped his clutches and ran away, swimming far across the seas to the very end of the water, where there was a place called Atlas.

Amphitrite – Goddess of the Sea

Amphitrite and Poseidon

Amphitrite hid there for some time, but Poseidon was not to be denied. He hunted for her under every barnacle and bit of seaweed, searching among the fishes and sea creatures for his lost love. Frustrated at not being able to find her, he sent his precious pet dolphin out to look for her, thinking that a dolphin would have better luck and get the job done faster.

He was right. The dolphin went all the way to Atlas, and talked to Amphitrite in a soothing and comforting voice, persuading her that Poseidon really did love her and would not harm her. Finally, she agreed to return with the dolphin and become Poseidon’s wife.

The two were married in a great celebration. As a reward to the dolphin, it is said that Poseidon gave it a place in the heavens, where it is now the constellation Delphinus.

Amphitrite doesn’t make many appearances after that, but she does show up in various works of art from the time. In them she wears the robes of a queen, and carries a three-pointed scepter called a trident. It is much like Poseidon’s trident, only smaller. Sometimes she is shown with crab claws in her hair, curving around her face like a helmet.

Over time, Amphitrite’s influence as a goddess lessened, and now her name is one of many words that symbolize the sea.