Achelous is the deity of the river of that name ( modern name Aspropotamus) and ruler of all rivers. His name means ‘He who washes away all cares’. He is the eldest son of OCEANUS and TETHYS, though other strands have him the son of HELIOS and GAIA, or even a son of POSEIDON. He fought with HERACLES for DEIANIRA, a Greek princess. Despite assuming many forms, among then a snake and a bull, Achelous was eventually vanquished. Heracles broke off one of his horns and nymphs fashioned it into the Cornucopia (‘horn of plenty’). Achelous is usually depicted as a bull with the torso of a man and a bearded face (common for river gods, especially on coins), but also as an old, grey man with horns. (Ovid VIII, 547; IX, 1) His wife is the muse MELPOMENE and in one legend the SYRENS are his daughters. Achlae is his Etruscan name
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