Poseidon

Poseidon. In Greek mythology, he is one of the Twelve Olympians, the brother of Zeus and Hades, and the ruler of the seas, freshwater, earthquakes, and horses. His volatile temper was believed to be the cause of shipwrecks, droughts, and earthquakes, making him both a feared and revered figure. The god is most famously associated with his weapon, the trident, and his palace was said to be located in the depths of the Aegean Sea.

Mythology and origins

Poseidon was a son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and was swallowed at birth by his father, only to be later freed by his brother Zeus during the Titanomachy. Following the overthrow of the Titans, the three brothers drew lots for dominion over the cosmos; Poseidon won rule over the seas, while Zeus took the sky and Hades the Underworld. He played a key role in many myths, including his contest with Athena for patronage of Athens, where he struck the Acropolis with his trident to create a saltwater spring, though he lost to the goddess's gift of the olive tree. His disputes with other gods were frequent, such as his conflict with Helios over Corinth and with Hera over Argos.

Attributes and symbols

His primary attribute is the trident, a three-pronged fishing spear forged by the Cyclopes during the war against the Titans, which could shake the earth and shatter any object. The horse is sacred to him, as he was said to have created the first horse, Skyphios, by striking a rock with his trident, and he fathered the winged horse Pegasus with Medusa. Other symbols include the bull, representing his raw power and connection to the earth, and marine creatures like the dolphin and the tuna. He is often depicted in art as a powerful, bearded figure holding his trident, sometimes riding a chariot pulled by hippocamps or horses across the waves.

Worship and cults

Major centers of his worship included the coastal city of Corinth, where the Isthmian Games were held in his honor, and the sanctuary at Sounion, where a magnificent Temple of Poseidon overlooks the sea. The Panionium, a sanctuary dedicated to him on Mycale, was the central meeting place of the Ionian League. Important festivals like the Posideia involved the sacrifice of bulls and horses, often by drowning. He was also venerated inland as a god of freshwater and earthquakes, with significant cults at Helike in Achaea and at the Temple of Poseidon in Paestum.

Poseidon in literature and art

In Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, he is a major antagonist, persecuting Odysseus for blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and supporting the Achaeans during the Trojan War. Hesiod details his origins and role in the Theogony. In classical art, he appears on numerous vases, such as those depicting his battle with the Gigantes during the Gigantomachy, and in sculpture, most famously in the Artemision Bronze, which may represent either him or Zeus. Later Roman art, influenced by the identification with Neptune, often shows him in mosaics and reliefs, such as those at the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Legacy and modern depictions

His Roman counterpart, Neptune, became a central figure in Roman mythology and was celebrated in the festival of Neptunalia. The planet Neptune is named after this Roman equivalent. In modern times, he appears in numerous works, including Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, where the protagonist is his demigod son. He features in films like Clash of the Titans and its remake, and in the God of War video game series. The United States Navy has named USS Poseidon submarines and a Trident missile system after his iconic weapon, and his image remains a popular symbol in maritime culture and heraldry.

Category:Greek gods Category:Sea and river gods Category:Twelve Olympians