thetis
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Definition
Proper noun 1. (Greek Mythology) A sea nymph (Nereid) in Greek mythology, daughter of Nereus and Doris, and the mother of the hero Achilles by the mortal Peleus.
Usage
- "Thetis" is used as a proper name to refer specifically to this mythological figure.
- It is primarily used in contexts discussing classical mythology, literature, or art.
Examples
- In Homer's , Thetis hears the prayers of her son Achilles and appeals to Zeus on his behalf.
- The wedding of Thetis and Peleus was a famous event in myth, to which Eris, the goddess of strife, was not invited.
- To make her son invulnerable, Thetis dipped the infant Achilles in the River Styx.
Advanced Usage
- "Thetis' heel": A very rare, literary variant of "Achilles' heel," alluding to the one vulnerable spot on Achilles' body that was not submerged when Thetis dipped him in the Styx. It emphasizes the mother's role in the origin of the weakness.
- The over-reliance on a single supplier became the company's Thetis' heel.
Variants and Related Words
- Nereid (noun): Any of the sea nymphs, daughters of Nereus and Doris; Thetis is one of the most prominent Nereids.
- Peleus (proper noun): The mortal king, husband of Thetis and father of Achilles.
- Achilles (proper noun): The great Greek hero of the Trojan War, son of Thetis and Peleus.
Synonyms
- Sea nymph
- Nereid
- (In context) Mother of Achilles
Related Concepts & Idioms
- Achilles' heel: A critical weakness or vulnerable point. This idiom originates from the story of Thetis and Achilles.
- The Wedding of Thetis and Peleus: A common subject in classical art, representing a divine event that indirectly led to the Trojan War (through the "Judgment of Paris").
Noun
- (Greek mythology) one of the 50 Nereids; mother of Achilles by Peleus