Styx

The Patron Goddess of the River Styx

### Siblings

Other Oceanids, Potamoi, Tiberinus, Kerkopes, Phlegethon, Lethe, Cocytus, Acheron

### Offspring

Zelus, Nike, Cratos, Bia, Unidentified streams and fountains

### Other Relationships

Hades (Master), Persephone (Master), Horkos (Superior)

## Other

### Status

Alive

**Styx** is the Greek goddess of the River Styx and the eldest Oceanid.

## Overview

Styx is the older sister of the river gods. Styx was also the personified Daimon of hatred (stygos). She was a firm ally of Zeus in the Titan Wars, who brought her children Nike (Victory), Zelos (Rivalry), Bia (Force) and Cratos (Strength) to stand alongside the god. Zeus rewarded her by making her the goddess of the River Styx and the agent of the binding oath of the gods.

## Appearance

Styx had ebony hair that was wafting in the cold current. Her face appeared delicate and sublime. Her obsidian eyes gleamed with absolute hatred. Styx's purple and black dress billowed around her like volcanic smoke. Her lipstick, eye shadow, and mascara were all expertly done in shades of midnight. In Styx can also wear black silky robes instead.

## Powers and Abilities

According to Apollo, Styx is one of the strongest children of Oceanus and Tethys, showing a little fear of her himself.

* **Immense Godly Durability**: As seen during Apollo's final battle against the Python dangling in the edge of the chasm leading to The Void, Styx is able to freely appear and manifest herself within the edge of the chasm despite the fact that being so close to the chasm was capable of undoing and fading even the most powerful of Gods. Apollo stated that this immense Godly durability was likely due to her being a literal embodiment of hatred, one of the most powerful and long lasting emotion that all beings have in common.
* **Hydrokinesis**: As an Oceanid, Styx possesses a considerable amount of power and control over her river.
	+ **Power Bestowal**: She can bestow incredible power to mortals, such as the Curse of Achilles which gives a human the power to physically challenge a god.
	+ **Toxikinesis**: As her river can burn away even souls, it is implied that she can do this too.
* **Binder of Oaths**: As the river all people, even the gods, swear upon, Styx possesses the power to bind an oath and punish those who break them. However, no Olympian seemed to be directly punished by her, though their demigod children were often punished instead and they do show be scared of her in that sense; It is assumed she can still control them.
	+ **Necromancy**: Styx can summon the souls of those who have broken oaths to her aid. Their souls belong to her in death.
* **Odikinesis**: As the Titaness of Hatred, Styx can sense, have insight on, and remove hatred.
* **Hypnokinesis**: Styx can control and enter the dreams of others. She was able to speak to and influence the hallucination-like dreams of Apollo.

## History

### Origins

Styx is one of the Oceanids, the eldest daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, and presides over the River Styx in the Greek Underworld, Hades. Like most of the River Gods, she was ignored by her parents and was raised by the Primordial Goddess Nyx.

Styx married the Titan Pallas, with whom she had four children; Zelus (“Zeal”), Nike (“Victory”), Cratos (“Strength”) and Bia (“Force”). Although she is married, one myth states that her river once was in the mortal world. However, after seeing the god Phlegethon who was her own brother, she felt so attracted to him that she moved her river to the underworld in order to be closer to him (Some versions state that his heat burned her, and that's why she had to stay there).

### Titanomachy

During the Titanomachy when Zeus was gathering allies, Styx and her children journeyed to Mount Olympus, whereupon she swore her allegiance to him. She was the first to do so and, in gratitude, Zeus bestowed high honors upon Styx. He decreed that the name of her river would be the one by which the gods took their solemn oaths, and that her children would live with him on Olympus.

## Myth and Legends

In classical myths, her husband was Pallas and she gave birth to Zelus, Nike, Cratos, and Bia (and sometimes Eos). Styx supported Zeus in the Titanomachy, where she was said to be the first to rush to his aid. For this reason, her name was given the honor of being a binding oath for the deities. Knowledge of whether this was the original reason for the tradition did not survive into historical records following the religious transition that led to the pantheon of the classical era.

## Quotes

* *"You. Oath-breaker. Do not think I have forgotten."* - Styx to Apollo.

* *"That's the goddess Styx, personification of one of the greatest and most powerful rivers of the Underworld. Eldest of Oceanus, first ally of the Olympians, and mother of Force, Strength, Rivalry, and Victory. She holds immense important in the Graeco-Roman cosmos, as not even the immortals themselves would be able to break a vow that's sworn upon her and her river's name."* - Matt Wright.

* *"Also she brought forth a holy company of daughters who with the lord Apollo and the Rivers have youths in their keeping -- to this charge Zeus appointed them -- Peitho, and Admete, and Ianthe, and Electra, and Doris, and Prymno, and Urania divine in form, Hippo, Clymene, Rhodea, and Callirrhoe, Zeuxo and Clytie, and Idyia, and Pasithoe, Plexaura, and Galaxaura, and lovely Dione, Melobosis and Thoe and handsome Polydora, Cerceis lovely of form, and soft eyed Pluto, Perseis, Ianeira, Acaste, Xanthe, Petraea the fair, Menestho, and Europa, Metis, and Eurynome, and Telesto saffron-clad, Chryseis and Asia and charming Calypso, Eudora, and Tyche, Amphirho, and Ocyrrhoe, and Styx who is the chiefest of them all. These are the eldest daughters that sprang from Ocean and Tethys; but there are many besides. For there are three thousand neat-ankled daughters of Ocean who are dispersed far and wide, and in every place alike serve the earth and the deep waters, children who are glorious among goddesses."* - Hesiod, Theogony 346.

## Gallery

*Styx in her river**Styx taking a bath**Styx's complete human form**Styx with a dragon*
## Trivia

* The Greek God Horkos is said to be Styx's superior.
* Styx falls into the Potameides type of Naiad.
* On 2 July 2013, "Styx" officially became the name of one of Pluto's moons.

## Image Sources

* (Styx Estigia.jpg) Styx/Estigia by Arbetta
* (Styx goddess.jpg) Styx from The Trials of Apollo: The Tower of Nero
* (Goddess styx by rainier024 ddl10ox-fullview.jpg) Goddess Styx by rainier024
* (Goddess of the Underworld River.jpg) Goddess of the Underworld River by AnniFlamma
* (Olga-bruser-olyadbg-styx40rgbsmall.jpg) Styx Goddess by Olga Bruser (olyadbg)
* (Annie-doyon-styx-img-0169.jpg) Styx by Annie Doyon
* (Styx PinkParasol.jpg) Styx by PinkParasol
* (StyxDragon zps7d0ae3a5.jpg) Styx by ???