Oceanus

Oceanus (Greek: Ὠκεανός, Ōkeanós; Latin: Oceanus) is a figure in ancient Greek mythology, representing the world ocean, the vast stream of water encircling the Earth, believed by the ancient Greeks and Romans to be the source of all the Earth's freshwater through its tributaries, the rivers. Oceanus was also the titan son of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth), brother and consort of Tethys, with whom he fathered the river gods and the Oceanids, the nymphs of the sources and springs. In Roman mythology, Oceanus held the same position, and was also the father of many rivers and streams. The concept of Oceanus was central to the ancient understanding of the world's geography, reflecting the belief that the Earth was surrounded by a single, continuous body of water. This primordial deity was often depicted in art as a wise, bearded figure, accompanied by Tethys, and was considered a benevolent and nurturing force, providing the essential element of water for life on Earth.