Poseidon

Poseidon, the god of the sea

The god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses (1)

Poseidon was one of the 12 Olympians and is usually depicted as a mature man with a sturdy build and dark beard holding a trident (2).

Background

Poseidon is the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. The myth surrounding his birth tells that he was born on the sacred island of Delos and shortly after, swallowed by Cronus with his other siblings with the fear that they would overthrow him one day (3). He is also the brother of Zeus, the god of lightning, who saved Poseidon and their siblings from their father's stomach, and Hades, the god of the underworld. Poseidon was the husband of Amphitrite and had a few children but also had affairs outside his marriage. Most notably, the cyclops Polyphemus, was his son by a sea nymph. Poseidon was worshipped by sailors and people who relied on the ocean for survival, as being the god of the sea. His symbols consist of a trident, horses, and dolphins and sea creatures (1). The trident was used by Poseidon to stir the oceans, create storms, and shake the earth through his anger. Poseidon is also represented by horses because he is credited with creating them in some stories. Marine creatures, such as dolphins and other sea creatures, symbolize his domain over all aquatic life.

The trident, most popular
symbol of Poseidon (4)

Titanomachy

There was a battle between the Olympians and the Titans, known as Titanomachy that Poseidon took part in. He helped the Olympians claim victory of this war, which took ten years. Cyclopes crafted a magical trident for him that aided himself, Zeus, and Hades to imprison the Titans in Tartaros (2). Zeus became the ruler of mortals and gods, Poseidon became the ruler of the seas, and Hades, became the ruler of the Underworld (5).

The Trojan War

The Trojan War (1250 BCE) is a mythical battle in Greek lore between the city of Troy and the Greek forces. It started when Paris, a prince of Troy, kidnapped Helen, the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. In response, the Greeks, under Agamemnon's leadership, besieged Troy for ten years to recover her (6). Poseidon supported the Achaian Greeks in the Trojan War, driven by resentment toward King Laomedon of Troy. He disguised himself to inspire Greek warriors and secretly aided the Greeks with Hera’s help while Zeus was distracted. Poseidon protected certain Trojans, like Aineias, due to fate, and assisted Achilles. He also played a key role in the fall of Troy by sending a sea serpent to kill the seer Laokoon, ensuring the Greeks' Trojan Horse trick succeeded. After the war, Poseidon withdrew, but his anger was stirred by Aias and Odysseus' actions (7).

Contest Between Athena and Poseidon

Contest Between Athena and Poseidon (9)

A tale that is often told about Poseidon is about his contest with Athena to become the protector of Athens. To gain the favor of the Athenians, Poseidon struck the Acropolis' ground with his trident (8). A saltwater spring appeared in response which represented his offer of naval dominance and control over the seas. Athena, in turn, offered the olive tree as a symbol of peace, prosperity, and agricultural wealth. The city's patronage was granted to Athena because the Athenians established her gift was more valuable (8). The imprint of Poseidon's trident on Acropolis is a constant reminder of this contest. 

Modern Retellings of Poseidon

One of the most well-known story about Poseidon is in the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan. In this unique telling of the story about the gods, Poseidon is the father of Perseus, or Percy Jackson in the series. It is commonly thought that Perseus is the son of Zeus, but Rick Riordan chose to make his variation of the story by connecting Percy to the sea and having a father that is a powerful god, but not entirely over dominant. Another difference in this specific adaptation is that Poseidon is said to have fallen in love with a mortal names Sally Jackson, who Percy is raised by throughout his early life without the knowledge of being a demigod. In the novel Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, Perseus is the son of Zeus and Danäe, a mortal princess that was locked away by her father, King Acrisius (10). In all the retellings, Poseidon remains the god of the sea with the duties to control all aspects of the ocean, with its calmness and storms, as well as causing earthquakes on land. There is no one correct story of Poseidon and the story has been altered by many authors to make it their own. 

Works Cited

1. "Poseidon: The God of the Sea." Epos Travel & Tours. https://www.epostravel-tours.com/poseidon- the-god-of-the-sea/

2. "Poseidon, Olympian God of the Sear." Theoi Greek Mythology. https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html

3. "The Greek God Poseidon: Mythology, Facts & Quiz." Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-greek-god-poseidon-mythology-facts-quiz.html#:~:text=According%20to%20ancient%20Greek%20mythology,overthrow%20him%20and%20the%20Titans 

4. "Poseidon's Trident." Depositphotos. https://depositphotos.com/photo/poseidons-trident-38080277.html

5. "Titanomachy." Greek Mythology. https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Titanomachy/titanomachy.html

6. "Poseidon." Mythology Unbound, UEN Pressbooks. https://uen.pressbooks.pub/mythologyunbound/chapter/poseidon/#:~:text=Poseidon's%20Role%20in%20the%20Trojan,the%20father%20of%20King%20Priam 

7. "Poseidon: Greek God of the Seat." Mythagora. https://mythagora.com/bios/poseidon.html

8. "Poseidon in Greek Mythology." Centre of Excellence. https://www.centreofexcellence.com/poseidon-in-greek-mythology/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20standout%20tales,which%20a%20saltwater%20spring%20emerged

9. Fantuzzi, A., Fiorentino, R., "Poseidon." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336737

10. Haynes, Natalie. Stone Blind. HarperCollins, 2022.