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.”. Athena kept Athens, and ever since then, the olive branch is a universal symbol of peace. Poseidon: GreekMythology.com - Jan 20, 2021, Greek Mythology iOS Volume Purchase Program VPP for Education App. The god of the sea was also greedy – especially when it came to earthly kingdoms. Poseidon was an important god. 01 Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea. Birth of Poseidon Poseidon was the son of Cronus and Rhea, the king and queen of the Titans. One of his cult titles, Enosichthon, means "earth shaker", referring to his role in causing earthquakes. He is the Olympian God of the seas, rivers, water, storms, tempests, winds, hurricanes, rain, floods, drought, earthquakes and horses, King of the Ocean and of Atlantis. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, Poseidon’s trident, like Zeus’s thunderbolt and Hades’ helmet, was fashioned by the three Cyclopes. Poseidon had complete power and control over the ocean. Poseidon was finally released by Zeus during the final drinking competition that Kronos had with his Titanic brothers and nephews. The Romans, ignoring his other aspects, identified him with Neptune as sea god. Immediately after Poseidon was born he was eaten whole by his father, Kronos. Feared by sailors, he can cause storms and shipwrecks with the aid of his three-pronged trident, but if he’s in a good mood he can soothe the sea to sleep. See Also: Nereus, Amphitrite, Odysseus, Laomedon. Poseidon is the Greek god of the seas, originally an ally in God of War, after being infected by the evils in Pandora’s Box became a major antagonist from God of War III. However, when the time came, Laomedon refused to pay them. Oftentimes, he is depicted riding a four-horse chariot and wielding a trident over the waves. As the god of horses, Poseidon is thought likely to have been introduced to Greece by the earliest Hellenes, who also introduced the first horses to the country about the 2nd century bce. Cronos, fearful of a son who would overthrow him as he vanquished his own father Ouranos, swallowed each of his children as they were born. Poseidon reigns as the sea king. Like all the Olympians, Poseidon has a counterpart among the Gods of Rome known as Neptune. Poseidon was the god of the sea and protector of all aquatic animals and features. During the war he received the magical Trident, a weapon of great power made by the Cyclopes as a token of gratitude for helping them to escape from Tartarus. Athena, in turn, planted an olive tree. As punishment, he sent Poseidon and Apollo to serve the Trojan king Laomedon, for whom they built the vast, beautiful walls surrounding Troy. Poseidon's sacred animals were the Dolphin, the Horse and the Bull. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Poseidon, RT Russiapedia - Biography of Konstantin Stanislavsky, Poseidon - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Poseidon - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Even so, the narcissist that he was, Poseidon destroyed the fortifications built by the Greeks, firmly believing that his walls are the only buildings of the type worthy to remain. Cycnus by Calyce, daughter of Hecato. Poseidon is the son of Cronus and Rhea. Although he was officially one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in his watery domain. Poseidon was the god of the sea and the god of horses. Like Zeus, Poseidon's love life was characterized by many extramarital affairs. He appears as an ally in God of War and a major antagonist in God of War III. With his wife, he has a daughter, Ursula, who is named after the sea goddess of the same name.His wife and daughter, both renowned for their singing voices, give him much happiness. Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea. He was the father of Pelias and Neleus by Tyro, the daughter of Salmoneus, and thus became the divine ancestor of the royal families of Thessaly and Messenia. 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. Poseidon, in ancient Greek religion, god of the sea (and of water generally), earthquakes, and horses. However, some say that Rhea managed to hide Poseidon from his father’s rage as well – either in a flock of lambs in Arcadia or in Rhodes to be raised by Oceanus’ daughter Capheira and the Telchines. In fact, she fled to the Atlas Mountains to escape the god of the sea. In one story, Poseidon attempted to seduce his sister, Demeter. 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