Poseidon
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In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the god of the sea, as well as horses and, as "Earth-Shaker", of earthquakes. The sea gods Rodon in Illyrian mythology, Nethuns in Etruscan mythology, and Neptune in Roman mythology were sea gods analogous to Poseidon.
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Bronze Age Greece
If surviving Linear B clay tablets can be trusted; the name PO-SE-DA-WO-NE (Poseidon) occurs with greater frequency than does DI-U-JA (Zeus). A feminine variant, PO-SE-DE-IA, is also found, indicating a lost consort goddess. Tablets from Pylos record sacrificial goods destined for "the Two Queens and Poseidon" and to "the Two Queens and the King". The most obvious identification for the "Two Queens" is with Demeter and Persephone, or their precursors, goddesses who were not associated with Poseidon in later periods. Poseidon is already identified as "Earth-Shaker"— E-NE-SI-DA-O-NE— in Mycenaean Knossos a powerful attribute where earthquakes had accompanied the collapse of the Minoan palace-culture. In the heavily sea-dependent Mycenean culture, no connection between Poseidon and the sea has yet surfaced; among the Olympians it was determined by lot that he should rule over the sea (Hesiod, Theogony 456): the god preceded his realm.
Demeter and Poseidon's names are linked in one Pylos tablet, where they appear as PO-SE-DA-WO-NE and DA-referred to by the epithets Enosichthon, Seischthon and Ennosigaios, all meaning "earth-shaker" and referring to his role in causing earthquakes. Poseidon was a major civic god of several cities: in Athens, he was second only to Athena in importance; while in Corinth and many cities of Magna Graecia he was the chief god of the polis.
According to Pausanias, Poseidon was one of the caretakers of the Oracle at Delphi before Olympian Apollo took it over. Apollo and Poseidon worked closely in many realms: in colonization, for example, Apollo provided the authorization to go out and settle from Delphi, while Poseidon watched over the colonists on their way, and provided the lustral water for the foundation-sacrifice. Xenophon's Anabasis describes a group of Spartan soldiers singing to Poseidon a paean - a kind of hymn normally sung for Apollo.
Like Dionysus and the Maenads, Poseidon also caused certain forms of mental disturbance. One Hippocratic text says that he was blamed for certain types of epilepsy.
Later Myth
Birth and triumph over Cronus
Poseidon was a son of Cronus and Rhea. Like his brother Zeus, he did not share the fate of his other brothers and sisters who were eaten by Cronos. He was saved by his mother Rhea who tricked Cronus into eating a stone wrapped in a sheet instead. Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the Hecatonchires, Gigantes and Cyclopes overthrew Cronus and the other Titans. According to other variants, Poseidon was raised by the Telchines on Rhodes, just as Zeus was raised by the Korybantes on Crete.
When the world was divided in three, Zeus received the sky, Hades the underworld and Poseidon the sea.
Lovers
His wife was Amphitrite, a nymph and ancient sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus and Doris.
Poseidon was also thought to have raped Aethra thus fathering the famed Theseus.
In an archaic myth, Poseidon once pursued Demeter. She spurned his advances, turning herself into a mare so that she could hide in a flock of horses; he saw through the deception and became a stallion and captured her. Their child was a horse, Arion, which was capable of human speech.
Poseidon had an affair with Alope, his granddaughter through Cercyon, begetting Hippothoon. Cercyon had his daughter buried alive but Poseidon turned her into the spring, Alope, near Eleusis.
Poseidon rescued Amymone from a lecherous satyr and then fathered a child, Nauplius, by her.
A mortal woman named Tyro was married to Cretheus (with whom she had one son, Aeson) but loved Enipeus, a river god. She pursued Enipeus, who refused her advances. One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus and from their union were born Pelias and Neleus, twin boys.
With Medusa, Poseidon had sexual intercourse on the floor of a temple to Athena. Medusa was changed into a monster. When she was later beheaded by the hero Perseus, Chrysaor and Pegasus emerged from her neck.
After having sex with Caeneus, Poseidon fulfilled her request and changed her into a man.
Homeric Hymn to Poseidon
The hymn to Poseidon included among the Homeric Hymns is a brief invocation, a seven-line introduction that addresses the god as both "mover of the earth and barren sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide AegaeThe ancient palace-city that was replaced by Vergina, and specificies his twofold nature as an Olympian: "a tamer of horses and a saviour of ships."
Other stories
Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens after a competition with Poseidon. They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprung up; the water was salty and not very useful, whereas Athena offered them an olive tree. The Athenians (or their king, Cecrops) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food. This is thought to remember a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants. It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the Persian fleet at Salamis Island in a sea battle. Another version of the myth says that Poseidon gave horses to Athens
Poseidon and Apollo, having offended Zeus, were sent to serve King Laomedon He had them build huge walls around the city and promised to reward them well, a promise he then refused to fulfill. In vengeance, before the Trojan War, Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy (it was later killed by Heracles).
In the Iliad Poseidon favors the Greeks, and on several occasion takes an active part in the battle against the Trojan forces. However, in Book XX he rescues Aeneas after the Trojan prince is laid low by Achilles.
In the Odyssey, Poseidon is notable for his hatred of Odysseus due to the latter's having blinded the god's son Polyphemus. The enmity of Poseidon prevents Odysseus's return home to Ithaca for many years. Odysseus is even told, notwithstanding his ultimate safe return, that to placate the wrath of Poseidon will require one more voyage on his part.
In the Aeneid, Neptune is still resentful of the wandering Trojans, but is not as vindictive as Juno, and in Book I he rescues the Trojan fleet from the goddess's attempts to wreck it, although his primary motivation for doing this is his annoyance at Juno's having intruded into his domain.
Consorts/children
Not all of Poseidon's children are human. There is Triton, the merman, Pegasus, the winged horse, Polyphemus, the cyclops, and Oto and Ephialtae, the giants.
The Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, brother of the gods Zeus and Hades, and the goddesses Hera, Demeter, and Hestia, was associated not just with the sea but with horses. The following is a list of the mates of Poseidon and the children or other offspring they created.
- With Aethra
- With Alope
- With Amphitrite
- With Amymone
- With Astypalaea
- With Canace
- With Celaeno
- With Chione
- With Chloris
- With Clieto
- With Demeter
- With Europa
- With Euryale
- With Eurynome
- With Gaia
- With Halia
- With Hiona
- With Hippothoe
- With Libya
- With Lybie
- With Melia
- With Medusa
- With Periboea
- With Satyrion
- With Thoosa
- With Tyro
- Unknown mother
Poseidon Festival
Was widely celebrated at the beginning of the winter. Poseidon's Festival at the Winter Solstice.
Role in society
Sailors prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice. In his benign aspect, Poseidon created new islands and offered calm seas. When offended or ignored, he struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.
Depiction in Greek Art
Poseidon's chariot was pulled by a hippocampus or horses that could ride on the sea. He was associated with dolphins and three-pronged fish spears, (tridents). He lived in a palace on the ocean floor, made of coral and gems.
Neptune
Neptune was worshiped by the Romans primarily as a horse god, Neptune Equester, patron of horse-racing. He had a temple near the race tracks in Rome (built in 25 BC), the Circus Flaminius, as well as one in the Campus Martius, where on July 23, the Neptunalia was observed.
References
- Walter Burkert, Greek Religion (1977) 1985.
- Greek Mythology resource
- Theoi.com: Poseidon
- The story of Poseidon and Pelops
- Gods found in Mycenaean Greece; a table drawn up from Michael Ventris and John Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek second edition (Cambridge 1973)
- Poseidon's Festival at the Winter Solstice, Noel Robertson, The Classical Quarterly, New Series, Vol. 34, No. 1 (1984), pp. 1-16
