Thetis
Thetis is most famous today for being Achilles’ mother. She was courted by both Zeus and Poseidon until a prophesy stated that her son would be greater than his father, so they hoisted her off on a mortal. It was her wedding that started the Trojan war. She was one of the fifty Nereids, daughter to Nereus and Doris. Probably. Or she created the universe. Maybe. It gets a bit hazy when you go back far enough. She was (likely) a nymph. Or (possibly) a goddess. In any case, she was an ancient sea deity of obscure origin and very much not to be confused with Tethys, an ancient sea deity of obscure origin. Who was also Thetis’ grandmother/aunt. Tethys was a sea goddess who raised Hera as a step child during the Titanomachy, the fight between the Titans and the Olympians. Which makes Thetis and Tethys different, obviously. Probably. They both existed before written record, so we’re pretty sure that they’re different. Mostly sure. Like, 98%. So, just to recap. Thetis: ancient sea goddess(? Nymph?) who may have had a cult but is definitely Achilles’ mom. Tethys: ancient sea goddess who may have had a cult but definitely raised Hera during the Titanomachy. Most likely two different deities.
The names of people and places in Greek mythology can be overwhelming for someone new to the mythos. Leto and Leda were two different women who were tricked by Zeus into having their kids. There were two Ajaxes fighting for the Greeks in the Trojan war! Mistaking two deities with similar names is likely to happen. This script explores what might happen if you end up praying to the wrong goddess.
THETIS by Neil Higgins
Directed by Stuart Bousel
Staged Reading on November 5, 2015
Scott Leonard (Narrator)
Brian Martin (Nicodemus)
Stacy Matthews Winn (Thetis)
Neil has been obsessed with Greek mythology since a very young age. Good thing this festival came along to validate his obsession. Neil has either acted, written, directed, or some combination thereof, with the Olympians festival every year since it started. He has been doing theatre around the City for nearly 10 years now with several amazing companies: SF Theater Pub, Performers Under Stress, PianoFight, Thunderbird Theatre, Left Coast Theatre, and the Playwright’s Center of San Francisco.
The image for A Bevy of Beauties was created by Liz Conley!