| The Sisters of Styx |
| Styx in The Iliad (reference) |
| Styx in The Odyssey (reference) |
Styx is one of the daughters of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys, i.e. an Okeanid. She and her sisters are only a small portion of the three thousand daughters of Okeanos and Tethys but they were the first born and are called a Holy Company ... Styx is the oldest and most eminent of her sisters.
When Zeus, his brothers and sisters were fighting to gain control of all creation, their primary rivals were the haughty Titans. The war with the Titans was a long and bitter struggle but after ten years, Zeus and the Olympians finally won. During the war, Zeus promised that any Immortal who fought on his side would retain their power and position and those without power or position under Kronos (Cronos) would be rewarded justly. Styx, with her children, were the first to stand with Zeus ... for that reason, Styx is preeminent amongst the Immortals. A tenth part of the waters of Okeanos are allotted to Styx. (Theogony, line 793)
Styx had three children with Pallas: Zelos (Rivalry), Nike (Victory) and Bia (Force) ... her children are forever honored by Zeus and make their home wherever Zeus resides. (Theogony, line 390)
Although she is called The Oath River, Styx is actually an Okeanid. 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 also called The Hateful because she is the body of water in the Underworld over which the souls of the dead are ferried by Charon and by which the Immortals swear their most solemn oaths.
Styx resides near the halls of Hades and Persephone ... she lives apart from the other Immortals in a glorious house with a stone roof supported by silver columns. The messenger goddess, Iris, is the only Immortal to enter Styx’s home. When a dispute erupts on Mount Olympos (Olympus), Zeus sends 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.
According to the historian, Herodotus, Styx came to the surface of the earth in the town of Nonakris (Nonacris) which is in Arkadia (Arcadia) near the town of Pheneus. Styx manifested herself as a small stream trickling from a rock into a pool and surrounded by a dry wall . (Histories, book 6.74)
| Admete | Αδμητη | line 349 |
| Akaste (Acaste) | Ακαση | line 356 |
| Amphiro (Amphirho) | Αμφιρω | line 360 |
| Asia | Ασιη | line 359 |
| Dione | Διωνη | line 353 |
| Doris | Δωρις | line 350 |
| Elektra (Electra) | Ηλεκτρα | line 349 |
| Eudora | Ευδωρη | line 360 |
| Europa | Ευρωπη | line 357 |
| Eurynome | Ευρυνομη | line 358 |
| Galaxaura | Γαλαξαυρη | line 353 |
| Hippo | Ιππω | line 351 |
| Ianeira | Ιανειρα | line 356 |
| Ianthe | Ιανθη | line 349 |
| Idyia | Ιδυια | line 352 |
| Kallirhoe (Callirrhoe) | Καλλιροη | line 351 |
| Kalypso (Calypso) | Καλυψω | line 359 |
| Kerkeis (Cerceis) | Κερκηις | line 355 |
| Klymene (Clymene) | Κλυμενη | line 351 |
| Klytia (Clytie) | Κλυτιη | line 352 |
| Kryseis (Chryseis) | Χρυσηις | line 359 |
| Melobosis | Μηλοβοσις | line 354 |
| Menestho | Μενεσθω | line 357 |
| Metis | Μητις | line 358 |
| Okyroe (Ocyrrhoe) | Ωκυροη | line 360 |
| Ourania (Urania) | Ουρανιη | line 350 |
| Pasithoe | Πασιθοη | line 352 |
| Peitho | Πειθω | line 349 |
| Perseis | Περσηις | line 356 |
| Petraie (Petraea) | Πετραιη | line 357 |
| Plexaura | Πληξαυρα | line 353 |
| Plouto (Pluto) | Πλουτω | line 355 |
| Polydora | Πολυδωρη | line 354 |
| Prymno | Πρυμνω | line 350 |
| Rhodeia (Rhodea) | Ροδεια | line 351 |
| Telesto | Τελεστω | line 358 |
| Thoe | Θοη | line 354 |
| Tyche | Τυχη | line 360 |
| Xanthe | Ξανθη | line 356 |
| Zeuxo | Ζευξω | line 352 |
The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Wyatt translations of The Iliad. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use. Lattimore (ISBN 0226469409); A.T. Murray/William F. Wyatt Vol. I & II (ISBN 0674995791 and 0674995805); Robert Fitzgerald (ISBN 0374529051); Robert Fagles (ISBN 0140275363)
The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Lattimore and Murray/Dimock translations of The Odyssey. Other translations (Fitzgerald, Fagles et al) do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use. Richmond Lattimore (ISBN 0060931957); A.T. Murray/George E. Dimock Vol. I & II (ISBN 0674995619 and 0674995627); Robert Fitzgerald (ISBN 0374525749); Robert Fagles (ISBN 0140268863)
