Brizo (Ancient Greek: Βριζώ) is an ancient Greek mythology who was known as the protector of mariners, sailors, and fishermen.
One of the epithets that was used in ancient Greece for the seers who specialized at the interpretation of dreams was brizomantis (βριζόμαντις).[ Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, enypniomantis][ A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Brizo]
Etymology
Brizo, in ancient greek Βριζώ /
Brizṓ, derives from the verb βρίζω signifiant « to slumber ».
Worship
According to the hellenistic author Semus of
Delos, Brizo was worshipped by the women of Delos, who set out food offerings in small boats. Brizo would accept anything but fish. Prayers were addressed to her to grant everything that was good, but especially to safeguard ships.
[Semus of Delos, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker, 396 F 4 = Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, 8.335 AB.] Along with the offerings, Lillian Lawler has suggested that a dance done by sailors at Delos was in honour of Brizo.
Brizo also granted oracular dreams.
The people of Delos maybe slept in the oracular sanctuary (
manteion) mentioned in a delian inscription
[IG XI, 2, 165, l. 44.] to receive prophetic dreams from the goddess,
or perhaps they had those dreams in their own homes.
Given the maritime nature of Brizo's cult, it is highly likely that the Delians who experienced oracular dreams were people about to set sail and women whose husbands were lost at sea.
