Which primordial sea goddess was the mother of the Gorgons? Ceto was the mother of the Gorgons.
In Hesiod’s genealogy, Ceto was a primordial sea deity born to Pontus, the sea, and Gaia, the Earth. She became the consort of her brother Phorcys, and together they produced several strange and dangerous beings associated with the sea and the edges of the known world.
Their three Gorgon daughters were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. Medusa is the famous mortal Gorgon slain by Perseus, but she was only one member of the group. Ceto is therefore the mother, not one of the Gorgons herself—a common mix-up caused by Medusa’s far greater fame.
Ceto and Phorcys were also associated with the Graeae, Echidna, and other monstrous offspring, although ancient sources disagree about some of these family connections. Ceto should also be distinguished from other mythological figures named Ceto and from the Greek word ketos, meaning a sea monster.