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POSEIDON

POSEIDON

Poseidon is the violent and ill-tempered god of the sea and one of the twelve Olympians. He was also feared as the provoker of earthquakes and worshipped as the creator of the horse. A hot-blooded deity, Poseidon had many disputes with both gods and men, most famously with Athena and Odysseus.

Nowadays, Poseidon is known exclusively as a sea god. In ancient times, though, he may have been referenced as the god of the earth and fertility or even the supreme god of the sky. In fact, in portrayals, he looks very much like Zeus, a distinguished, bearded man with a dense curly hair and piercing eyes. The author Homer said that his shriek was as loud as one of ten thousand men combined.

Oftentimes, he is depicted riding a four-horse chariot and wielding a trident over the waves. The trident is his most recognizable emblem, given to him by the Cyclopes. It is said that Poseidon struck a rock with his trident to create the very first horse, Skyphios. During the Gigantomachy, the god used the trident to break off a piece of the island Kos, under which he subsequently entombed the Giant Polybotes. This piece became today's island Nisyros.

Since Poseidon had multiple powers, the Ancient Greeks invented various epithets to describe his manifestations and pray to him. To some, he was the "Savior of Sailors," to others the "Averter of Earthquakes." Yet a third group venerated him as "The Creator and Tamer of Horses" and to a fourth one he was "The Leader of Nymphs."

Poseidon was very violent. He was known to be impulsive and hot blooded. After a whole, he couldn't put up with Zeus' arrogant behavior as a ruler. As a result, he teamed up with Hera and Athena to teach him a lesson. The battle was not an easy one, but unfortunately for him, with the help of Thetis and Briareus, Zeus overpowered his challengers.

As punishment, Zeus decided to send Poseidon and Apollo to serve the Trojan king Laomedon. The two gods built the vast, beautiful walls surrounding Troy. However, when the time came, Laomedon refused to pay them. Poseidon was of course angered by this, and against the word of Zeus, he fought on the Greek side during the Trojan war, sending a sea monster named Cetus to torment the Trojans.

Deciding to go even further, Poseidon also destroyed the fortifications built by the Greeks. With his narcissistic personality, he firmly believed that his walls are the only build7ings of the type worthy to remain. And, mad at him for blinding his son Polyphemus, he had a decade-long feud with one of the greatest Greek heroes, Odysseus.

There once came a time in Ancient Greece when the first king of Athens, Cecrops, who was half person and half snake, had to find a patron deity for the citystate of Athens.

Poseidon was interested in the patronage of the city, but so was Athena. In turn, they both presented themselves in front of Cecrops and Cecrops asked from them to offer a gift truly valuable for Athens.

Poseidon showed first he struck the earth powerfully and created a well with his trident. Immediately, streaming water shot forth, but the water turned out to be salty and not very useful for the population.

Next, it was the turn of goddess Athena. Athena stepped forward, struck her spear into the ground and then she kneeled and planted an olive branch in it. This way she created an olive tree, as a symbolization of peace and prosperity on earth.

Cecrops was very impressed by Athena's gift. So he chose Athena to lay claim of the city of Athens and the city was named after her. Poseidon, however, was not pleased with the decision of Cecrops and cursed the city of Athens to never have enough water from then on. After that, it is said that a major problem of water shortage started in Athens, which continues until nowadays.

Just like Zeus, Poseidon had a weak spot for women. And, much like him, he was not exactly loved back by them. However, what he couldn't acquire with romance and gentleness, he did with violence and craftiness.

For example, he took by force both Caeneus and Medusa, who was afterward transformed into a beast by Athena as a punishment for allowing this. After Perseus beheaded the pregnant monster, Medusa gave birth to Poseidon's children, Chrysaor and Pegasus.

To trick Demeter who turned into a mare to reject his advances, the god transformed himself into a stallion. Afterward, Demeter gave birth to the nymph Despoena and the talking horse Arion. With Amymone, Poseidon fathered Nauplius; with Aethra - the divine hero Theseus. The list goes on and includes hundreds of consorts and at least as many children.

Amphitrite, a Nereid, was Poseidon's faithful wife throughout. She didn't want it at the beginning, though. In fact, she fled to the Atlas Mountains to escape the god of the sea. However, Poseidon sent Delphinus to win her. Honey-tongued Delphinus did the job in flying colors. As a favor, Poseidon set his image among the star: the constellation Dolphin. Amphitrite bore Poseidon three children: Triton, Rhode, and Benthesikyme.