In
Greek mythology,
Thalassa (; , "sea") was the primaeval spirit of the sea, of whom it has been suggested that she was of
Pre-Greek origin.
Gaius Julius Hyginus described her in the preface to his
Fabulae as daughter of
Aether and
Hemera (Hygin. Fab. Praef, 2). With her male counterpart
Pontus, she spawned the tribes of fish. The couple were later replaced by the other marine pairs,
Poseidon and
Amphitrite,
Oceanus and
Tethys. Nevertheless, fables were devoted to her by
Aesop and she was to be depicted in both artistic and literary works during the
Common Era.