An instigator, a firebrand, and a rebel, Poseidon figured prominently in Greek mythology thanks to his resistance of Zeus’ control over the pantheon; he was also well known for his disruptive influence over human affairs in Homeric epics the Iliad and the Odyssey. Sailors became lost in storms. He then transformed into a stallion and pursued her. Like his father, Proteus would himself become a god of the seas and rivers.2. Poseidon’s rage over the affair involving Laodemon had enormous influence over the course of the Trojan War, as told by Homer in the Iliad. Poseidon is featured prominently in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" books and movies, where he is the father of Percy Jackson. Together, they had three children: Triton, the messenger god of the sea, Benthesikyme, and Rhodos, the patron goddess of Rhodes and future wife of Helios. Poseidon of Milos, marble statue in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Athens, Greece (cropped and retouched).George E. Koronaios / CC BY-SA 4.0. . . Though Odysseus had fought on the side of the Achaeans, he and his crew happened to land on an island inhabited by Polyphemus, a Cyclops and son of Poseidon. . ↩. When the Titans made the thunderbolt for Zeus, they made the trident for Poseidon. However, in some folklore stories it is believed that Poseidon, like Zeus, was not swallowed by Cronus because his mother Rhea who concealed him among a flock of lambs and pretended to have given birth to a colt, which was devoured by Cronus instead. Poseidon himself fathered many horses, best known of which was the winged horse Pegasus by the Gorgon Medusa. . Poseidon was not just a sea god but was also believed to be the god of all the other waters, earthquakes, the storms, and even horses. He did so in order to avoid the detection of Zeus, who had ordered the gods to stay out of the affair. Poseidon's appearance: Poseidon is a bearded, older man usually pictured with seashells and other sea life. With their golden manes streaming behind them, Poseidon often holds a trident. One of the chief Olympian deities, Poseidon was a defiant god whose power was second only to that of Zeus. Major temple sites to visit: The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion still draws huge crowds of visitors to the cliffside site overlooking the sea. . Who is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares? Poseidon was god of the sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses and is considered one of the most bad-tempered, moody and greedy Olympian gods. While Poseidon’s heroic efforts won the day, the Achaeans still suffered tremendous losses that threatened their collective resolve. Poseidon's weaknesses: Warlike, though not so much as Ares; moody and unpredictable. Dolphins leaving their lairs to sport across his wake, When Polyphemus began eating members of the crew, Odysseus and his few remaining men devised a plan to blind the creature. Poseidon: In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the god of horses, earthquakes, and the sea. . After the gods defeated the Titans, the world was divided into three and Zeus, Hades and Poseidon drew straws to decide which they would rule. He battled Athena for control of the city which would later become known as Athens, in honor of the victor of that dispute. . . Poseidon was the second son of Cronus and Rhea (after Hades) and their penultimate child (before Zeus). Apel, Thomas. At times, however, his efforts were appreciated. As punishment, Zeus stripped the rebellious deities of their divine rights and sent them to run errands on earth. . Onto his battle-car, his pair that raced the wind While at the ruins, look for the engraving “Lord Byron,” the name of an English poet. Poseidon has frequently appeared in popular video games, including in the God of War and the Assassin’s Creed series. N.S. The sea god also figured prominently in Percy Jackson & the Olympians, a book series by Rick Riordan in which Poseidon played father to the eponymous hero. DeTraci Regula is a freelance writer who has specialized in Greek travel and tours for 18 years. His character as a sea god eventually became his most prominent in art, and he was represented with the attributes of the trident, the dolphin, and the tuna. One of the chief Olympian deities, Poseidon was a defiant god whose power was second only to that of Zeus.Although he was chiefly known as god of the sea and seafarers, his power extended to other domains as well. Link will appear as Poseidon: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net - Greek Gods & Goddesses, September 19, 2014, © Greek Gods and Goddesses 2010 - 2020 | About | Contact | Privacy, Poseidon: https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net, Poseidon, Poseidon Aegaeus, Poseidon Hippios, Theseus, Triton, Polyphemus, Belus, Agenor, Neleus, Atlas. Additionally, he was hailed as the highest deity at Pylos and Thebes. When he discovered that one of his children was destined to overthrow him, Cronus swallowed Poseidon and his other children. Despite Athena’s role as the patron goddess of Athens, Poseidon played an important role in the city’s daily life, sending a giant flood to punish the Athenians for not backing him in the fight. Black Friday Sale! 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. . . v. Poseidon was the ancient Greek god of the sea, rivers, floods and drought, earthquakes, and horses. Eventually, mighty Zeus bested the Titan and forced him to regurgitate the children, including Poseidon. . However, his domain includes some aspects of the land as well, and in fact he is known as “earth-shaker” in many stories, because of his penchant for causing earthquakes. He is also believed to be the force behind earthquakes, an odd expansion of the power of a sea god, but possibly due to the association between earthquakes and tsunamis in Greece. Poseidon’s Roman equivalent is Neptune. Truly, there would be no Odyssey without Poseidon. In hopes of hiding from him, Demeter turned herself into a mare and joined a herd of horses — however, Poseidon was smart enough to figure this out and turned himself into a stallion. Again and again, the sea god conjures winds that keep Odysseus away from his home in Ithaca. Using great cunning, they tricked the massive creature into drinking himself into a stupor and blinded him when he was inebriated. Poseidon fought fiercely alongside Zeus and his other siblings in the cataclysmic conflict known as the Titanomachy. Fisherman and sea captains swore fealty to him and avoided his wrath; the sea god's persecution of the hero Odysseus was well known, and few wished to wander so far and so long before finding their home port. Poseidon also raped the Gorgon Medusa in the temple of Athena. Poseidon conceded—not out of fear for Zeus, he assured the other gods, but because of his enormous respect for the Father of Olympus. Both words meant “husband,” “lord,” or “master.” Some uncertainty surrounded the second of Poseidon's linguistic origins. Even with Odysseus, who had ruined his son Polyphemus' life, Poseidon behaved in a less fearsome manner than might be expected of an enraged Sturm und Drang kind of god. Poseidon was the son of the titan Cronos and brother to the Olympian gods Zeus and Hades.