Callirhoe (Oceanid)

In Greek mythology, Callirhoe (Ancient Greek: Καλλιρρόη) was an Oceanid, one of the 3,000 daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. She was associated with fresh water sources, specifically springs and fountains. Her significance primarily lies in her lineage and her role as the mother of several figures through her various unions.

Callirhoe's parentage is consistently stated in classical sources. However, her consorts and offspring vary across different accounts. Some traditions identify her as the wife of Chrysaor and the mother of Geryon and Echidna, notorious monsters of Greek mythology. Other sources state that she was the mother of Busiris, a cruel Egyptian king known for sacrificing foreigners, by Poseidon. Still other accounts name different children.

The widespread nature of the Oceanids and their association with water sources across the world suggests that Callirhoe, like her sisters, was a personification of a particular spring or fountain, perhaps even multiple locations. Her role as mother of monstrous figures in some traditions might reflect the perceived dangerous or unpredictable nature of bodies of water. The varied accounts of her children and consorts indicate the fluidity and adaptability of mythological narratives across different regions and time periods in ancient Greece.