By Robin, Kristin, and Brian
". . . mover of the earth and barren sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide Aegae . . . a tamer of horse and saviour of ships . . . " (Hymn to Poseidon from the Homeric Hymns)
Poseidon, a god of many names, was the Greek god of the sea and protector of all waters, both salt water and fresh. Also known as the god of horses and earthquakes, he was referred to by several other names which, being interpreted, meant "Earth-Shaker" or "Earth-Encircler". The Romans called him Neptune, which he is still at times mistakenly called. In a generous mood he created new islands and bestowed calm seas, but when angered would strike the ground with his three-pronged fish spear (trident), producing floods, earthquakes, storms, and shipwrecks. (He was also said to be the cause of certain mental diseases).
Poseidon was largely worshipped by ancient Greek fisherman who prayed to him for safe voyage, at times drowning horses and offering them as sacrifices. Being one of the major civic gods in several cities (Corinth, and many cities of Magna Graecia), he was second only to the goddess Athena in the Greek city of Athens.
The son of Cronus and Rhea, and one of the six Olympian gods, Poseidon was bequeathed the domain of the sea after Cronus and the Titans were defeated. There he reigns under the waves from his sea-floor palace of coral and gems. He rules with his wife, the nymph and ancient sea-goddesses Amphitrite, grandaughter of the Titan Oceanus. According to some myths, he rides across the waves on a chariot drawn by horses (hippocampus: horses that could ride on the sea), or dolphins.
Poseidon appears quite a few times in Greek literature in the epics of Homer (The Odyssey and Iliad) and Hesiod (Theogeny). He is the instigator of a large portion of Odysseus' woes in the Odyssey, persecuting him for blinding Poseidon's son, Polyphemus, the Cyclops. He also sent a sea-monster to ravage the countryside around Troy after the Trojan king refused to pay him his due for building the walls of the city. In yet another tale: Poseidon and Athena were challenged to a competition to see who could give the best gift to the Athenians - the victor winning the people's devotion. In some accounts, Poseidon created the horse, and Athena the olive tree; in other accounts, Poseidon made a salty spring to burst forth, flooding the land, and Athena once again created the olive tree. Whatever the case, Athena won, and the city Athens became her namesake. She became the patroness of Athens, where her temple, the Parthenon, still stands. (Angered at having lost, Poseidon retaliated by flooding the Attic Plain). Finally, as recounted in the Iliad, he also interfered to some extent in the war between the Greeks and the Trojans.
Nortoriously promiscuous, Poseidon had a least 27 partners (including his wife) which resulted in the birth of about 56(?) offspring - not all of them human. The most famous are the hero Theseus; Triton, the merman; Pegasus, the winged horse; and Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops. His most notable lovers (victims) were the goddess Demeter, Medusa, and King Minos' wife, Pasiphae, the mother of the Minotaur (half-man, half-bull). Known as a god of horses, Poseidon often changed into a steed (stallion) for these womanizing expeditions - hence the horse-like forms of the Pegasus, etc.
Additional fact: the Poseidon festival was celebrated in early winter.
Robin: I personally cannot see how anyone could worship a god of this sort. The only thing that sets him apart from humans is his immortality and magical powers. He is not really good or evil. I guess, in a way, he was created to be everything that a human could wish to be: powerful with the ability to have any woman he wanted.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/poseidon.html
Wikipedia
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/Poseidon.html
http://messagenet.com/myths/bios/poseidon.html
http://www.loggia.com/myth/poseidon.html
http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/gallery/poseidon_c.html
http://www.greekspider.com/greekgods/poseidon.htm
11 comments:
Poseidin, an adventerous sounding name, seems as though he did have some adventerous times and very busy indeed with 56 offspring. I have always associated this God with the sea and not with horses and earthquakes. Interesting to find he waould change into a steed for his womanizing expeditions.
I have never heard much about Poseidon, but he sounds interesting. I think it is neat that he is the god of the Sea.
I did not know that Poseidon was such a womanizer. I also found it interesting that he would change in the form of a steed to impress the ladies. I too associated him as a God of Sea and did not know that his powers affect other things as well.
I have always heard about Poseidon as god of the sea. Did not know he had other powers. Very cool how he can change into a steed. I agree, his name does sounds very adventerous.
I've always found Poseidon interesting, but I never knew he was a womanizer! I didn't know he would take the form of a horse/steed to impress women. It was pretty interesting to find out things about him like that.
Although I've been rather critical about people serving these gods, I do think that the stories about them are interesting - and quite creative.
In response to everyone (as was the last comment):
Its interesting that a god is prescribed to every power of nature outside of human's control: hurricanes, the sun, drought, rain, etc., all become gods.
Has anyone noticed the similarities between Poseidon and Ariel's father in "The Little Mermaid"? I've forgotten what his name is - I wonder if its also Poseidon.
posiden was a powerful god who ran the sea and i dont think that anyone was more powerful than him.
Ok, so I saw the movie Poseidon and it was about a ship named the Poseidon that kinda was just a remake of the titanic, you would think that they would have named the ship something other than the name of the god of the ocean...he may have been jealous.
I've liked Poseidon and thought he was interesting, but I never knew some things about him! I never knew he took the form of a horse, steed to impress women.
The only time I had ever heard of poseidon was a year or so ago when the movie came out called poseidon. I never realized that he was a greek god of the sea and several other things as well.
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