in fabulous history, sea nymphs, daughters of Oceanus, from whom they received their names, and of the goddesses Tethys or Thetis. They were 3000 according to Apollodorus, who mentions the names of seven of them; Aia, Styx, Electra, Donis, Eurynome, Amphitrite, and Metis. Hesiod speaks of the eldest of them, which he reckons 41, Pitno, Admete, Prynno, Ianthe, Rhodia, Hippo, Callirhoe, Urania, Clymene, Idyia, Pasithoc, Clythia, Zuxo, Galuxaure, Plexaure, Pericis, Pluto, Thoe, Polydora, Melobosis, Dione, Cerecis, Xanthe, Acalta, Ianira, Telethfo, Europa, Meneltho, Petrea, Eudora, Calypso, Tyche, Oeyroe, Critia, Amphiro, with those mentioned by Apollodorus, except Amphitrite. Hyginus mentions 16, whose names are almost all different from those of Apollodorus and Hesiod; which difference proceeds from the mutilation of the original text. The Oceanides, like the rest of the inferior deities, were honoured with libations and sacrifices. Prayers were offered to them, and they were entreated to protect sailors from storms and dangerous tempests. The Argonauts, before they proceeded to their expedition, made an offering of flour, honey, and oil, on the sea shore, to all the deities of the sea, and sacrificed bulls to them, and entreated their protection. When the sacrifice was made on the sea shore, the blood of the victim was received in a vessel; but when it was in open sea, they permitted the blood to run down into the waters. When the sea was calm, they generally offered a lamb or a young pig; but if it was agitated by the winds and rough, a black bull was deemed the most acceptable victim.