Bulfinch’s Mythology · Character

Neptune

God of the sea, brother of Jupiter, often causing storms and earthquakes.

minor

First appearance: roman divinities

Neptune shows up with force in Introduction. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Brother of Jupiter; received the ocean as his domain.

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In Introduction: Brother of Jupiter; received the ocean as his domain. Later, in Prometheus and Pandora: Brother of Jupiter, called upon…

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See Neptune in roman divinities

Character Web

31 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Greek and Trojan Heroes
Virgilian and Ovidian Figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

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In the story

Neptune appears across 22 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Introduction
Brother of Jupiter; received the ocean as his domain.
Prometheus and Pandora
Brother of Jupiter, called upon to help flood the earth.
XIV: Minerva—Niobe
God of the sea, competes with Minerva for Athens by offering the horse.
Minerva
God of the sea, shown in Minerva's web striking the earth to produce a horse during his contest with Minerva for Athens.
Theseus
Invoked by Theseus to curse Hippolytus; sends a sea-monster that causes Hippolytus's death.
The Rural Deities—Erisichthon—Rhoecus—The Water Deities—Camenae—Winds
Chief of the water deities, wielding the trident; created the horse and patron of horse races.
Erisichthon
God who answers the prayers of Erisichthon's daughter, granting her shape-shifting abilities to escape slavery.
The Water Deities
Neptune succeeded to the dominion of the waters after the Titans were overthrown.
Neptune
Chief of the water deities, wields a trident, creator of the horse and patron of horse races.
Amphitrite
Courts and marries Amphitrite, rewards the dolphin.
Triton and Proteus
Father of Triton and Proteus, god of the sea.
Leucothea and Palaemon
Invoked in Milton's poem as 'earthshaking Neptune'.
Ibycus
Ibycus enters the sacred grove of Neptune on his way to Corinth.
Orion
Father of Orion, gave him power over the sea.
Scylla and Charybdis
Mentioned as unable to save a vessel engulfed by Charybdis.
The Phaeacians—Fate of the Suitors
Displeased with the Phaeacians for rescuing Ulysses, he transforms their returning ship into a rock.
The Phaeacians
God who punishes the Phaeacians for aiding Ulysses by transforming their ship into a rock.
Adventures of Aeneas—The Harpies—Dido—Palinurus
God of the sea who calms the storm raised by Juno, rescues the Trojan ships, and later ensures the ship steers safely after Palinurus falls overboard.
Adventures of Aeneas
God of the sea who calms the storm raised by Juno, rescuing the Trojan fleet.
Palinurus
God of the sea who grants Venus's request for Aeneas's safe voyage, demanding one life as ransom, which is Palinurus.
The Mythical History of England
Father of Albion, the giant who ruled the island before being slain by Hercules.
N
God of the sea, identical with Poseidon.

Chapter companion notes

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See Neptune in roman divinities

See Neptune in Introduction