# Neptune — Metamorphoses character guide

> Neptune in Metamorphoses by Ovid.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Stern Neptune, Pleased Neptune

**First appearance:** 0006-giants-war

## Snapshot

The sea's stern sovereign whose trident calms floods and whose favor can raise a drowning mortal to godhood, ruling the waves with capricious majesty.

## Who they are

Neptune commands the ocean's depths and its creatures, from the moment he lays his mace on the rough sea to smooth its furrowed face after the great flood. He is both destroyer and preserver, drowning the wicked and rescuing the innocent, as when he elevates Ino and Melicerta to sea-deities. His interventions in mortal voyages remind readers that the sea is never neutral ground, and that a god's pleasure or displeasure can decide whether a ship reaches shore.

## In the story

### [Giants' War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/giants-war)

Assists Jove by sending floods and later calms the waters after the deluge.

### [Story of Coronis, and Birth of Esculapius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-coronis-and-birth-of-esculapius)

Neptune is the god who pursued the daw (formerly a maiden) and attempted to force her, leading to her transformation into a bird.

### [Transformation of Ino and Melicerta to Sea-Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/transformation-of-ino-and-melicerta-to-sea-gods)

Great god of waters, at Venus's request, grants Ino and Melicerta immortality and transforms them into sea deities.

### [Story of Medusa’s Head](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-medusa-s-head)

The god who violated Medusa in Minerva's temple.

### [Transformation of Arachne Into a Spider](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/transformation-of-arachne-into-a-spider)

God of the sea, shown in Minerva's tapestry striking a rock to produce a horse; also appears in Arachne's tapestry in multiple transformations for love.

### [Book VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-viii)

Referenced as a god of the sea in the context of Proteus.

### [Perimele Turned Into an Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/perimele-turned-into-an-island)

Moved by Achelous's plea, Neptune transforms Perimele into an island.

### [Building of Troy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/building-of-troy)

Assists Apollo in building the walls; floods the Phrygian plain and sends a sea monster after being cheated.

### [Book XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/book-xii)

Rapes Caenis and grants her wish to become a man and be invulnerable to steel.

### [Trojan War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/trojan-war)

God of the sea, who initially disobeys the Greeks by sending contrary winds.

### [Story of Cycnus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-cycnus)

Father of Cycnus, who transforms his son's body into a swan after his death.

### [Story of Caeneus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-caeneus)

The god who raped Caenis and later granted her wish to become a man.

### [Fate of Periclymenos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/fate-of-periclymenos)

Grandsire of Periclymenos, who granted him the power to change his form.

### [Death of Achilles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/death-of-achilles)

Grieves his son Cycnus and incites Apollo to bring about Achilles's death.

### [Deification of Aeneas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/deification-of-aeneas)

The river god Numicius, a subordinate of Neptune, purifies Aeneas at Venus's request.

### [Pythagorean Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/pythagorean-philosophy)

Cited as the god who poured in the conquering sea to separate Zancle from the Italian shore.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters/neptune
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters