Poseidon

576 Words2 Pages

Poseidon is a god of many names. He is most famous as the god of the sea. The son of Cronus and Rhea, Poseidon is one of six siblings who eventually "divided the power of the world." His brothers and sisters include: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Zeus. The division of the universe involved him and his brothers, Zeus and Hades. Poseidon became ruler of the sea, Zeus ruled the sky, and Hades got the underworld. The other divinities attributed to Poseidon involve the god of earthquakes and the god of horses. The symbols associated with Poseidon include: dolphins, tridents, and three-pronged fish spears.

Poseidon was relied upon by sailors for a safe voyage on the sea. Many men drowned horses in sacrifice of his honor. He lived on the ocean floor in a palace made of coral and gems, and drove a chariot pulled by horses. However, Poseidon was a very moody divinity, and his temperament could sometimes result in violence. When he was in a good mood, Poseidon created new lands in the water and a calm sea. In contrast, when he was in a bad mood, Poseidon would strike the ground with a trident and cause unruly springs and earthquakes, ship wrecks, and drownings.

Poseidon was similar to his brother Zeus in exerting his power on women and in objectifying masculinity. He had many love affairs and fathered numerous children. Poseidon once married a Nereid, Amphitrite, and produced Triton who was half-human and half-fish. He also impregnated the Gorgon Medusa to conceive Chrysaor and Pegasus, the flying horse. The rape of Aethra by Poseidon resulted in the birth of Theseus; and he turned Caeneus into a man, at her request, after raping her. Another rape involved Amymone when she tried to escape from a satyr and Poseidon saved her. Other offspring of Poseidon include: Eumolpus, the Giant Sinis, Polyphemus, Orion, King Amycus, Proteus, Agenor and Belus from Europa, Pelias, and the King of Egypt, Busiris.

One of the most notorious love affairs of Poseidon involves his sister, Demeter. Poseidon pursued Demeter and to avoid him she turned herself into a mare. In his lust for her, Poseidon transformed himself into a stallion and captured her. Their procreation resulted in a horse, Arion. Poseidon is Greek for "Husband" (possibly of wheat), and therefore it is thought that he and Demeter (goddess of wheat) are a good match because they reign as the god and goddess of fertility.

Show More
Related

  • Meso-American Beliefs

    1427 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...so associated with clouds, rivers, and oceans. Known to be omnipotent and omniscient, there was great respect for Varuna as believers thought the god kept watch over the entire universe. Because this god controlled the environment and flow of waters, it is believed that Varuna was responsible for upholding world order. Varuna is depicted on a chariot led by seven swans with an umbrella placed overhead. He has four arms in which he holds a lotus, a noose, a conch, and a vessel of gems. Ruler of waters in Greek mythology, is Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea and rivers. He became ruler of the sea after he and his brothers defeated the elder gods in a divine war. Poseidon is usually seen as an older man with long curly hair and a long beard. In his hand he holds a trident and in most cases is depicted wearing a crown while standing is amidst water or water creatures.

    Read More

  • The Greeks' Fears in The Odyssey by Homer

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...jor problem to ancient Greek because the Poseidon controls the sea it can cause destruction and death.

    Read More

  • Attic Black Figure Pottery

    1718 Words  | 4 Pages

    He was responsible for violent storms and earthquakes. The following story showed of Poseidon’s adventure. The god, Poseidon, was known to have an ill temper. At one point, he released tempests and earthquakes out of loneliness and anger. To combat his loneliness, he went out to find a wife and eventually set his sights of a Nymph named Amphitrite. She was the daughter of the Titan Oceanus who wanting to keep her virginity. Titan ended up rejecting Poseidon saying he was too violent, so he fled to the Atlas Mountains. The love struck Poseidon sent the dolphin king and messenger Delphinus to find his love. When Delphinus found her, he promised her that if she married Poseidon he would calm the seas. Thus, they were wed eventually having two children: Rhode Benthesicyme,

    Read More

  • Paleolithica's Influence On The Aztecs

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the top of this government was the royal family, headed by a king. They had a hierarchy throughout the land, and maintained control through the use of their army.

    Read More

  • Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's The Odyssey

    835 Words  | 2 Pages

    Poseidon, the god of the sea, is angered by the death of his son, the Cyclops. When Odysseus and his crew stopped off at the Cyclopes island on their way home from war, the cyclops, Polyphemus, begins terrorizing Odysseus’ men. Odysseus blinded him and boasted about the event. He sends storms against Odysseus and tries to wreak his ship in Book 5. While shipwrecked at sea, on a raft – which was aided by Athena – Poseidon sends another storm, washing Odysseus up on shore. Eventually, Odysseus is on another ship gifted to him by the Phaeacians, Poseidon turns the ship to stone and sinks while pulling into the harbor at Scheria. The idea that “a bad storm” can affect a well-trained

    Read More

  • Aphrodite: Love and Choas

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    She is the only goddess with an active sexual life. Many others had a couple of children, and suddenly stopped. In order to control her sexual tendencies, Zeus arranged a marriage for Aphrodite. She married her half-brother, Hephaestus, the god of fire and smithy to the gods. This marriage did not work out well, since...

    Read More

  • Ancient Greece: A History in Eleven Cities

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ancient Greece: A History in Eleven Cities is a concise and surprisingly refined assessment of the Ancient Greek world, from the early dark ages to late Antiquity, told uniquely through the history of eleven city-states or “polis”. Paul Cartledge’s Ancient Greece: A History in Eleven Cities, details the cultural traditions, trade, and politics that laid the foundation of the sprawling Aegean civilization. By examples of the successful polis Cnossos on the island of Crete, and continuing through to the rise of iconic Sparta, it is easy to trace the development of Greek civilization. The emergence of Classical Greece is examined in the accounts of Athens, Syracuse, and Thebes while the descriptions of Alexandria are symbolic of the transition into the Hellenistic age. A final discussion of the rise of Byzantium notes the decline of city-state independence. Arguably, Cartledge’s paradoxical title of the book surprisingly captures the key events detailing the history of the Greek civilization.

    Read More

  • Political Changes In Ancient Greece

    511 Words  | 2 Pages

    “With the Polis, the Greeks established a new type of political structure” (McKay 119) where poleis with it’s own distinctive system of government. While the Poleis were not the first forms of city-states to emerge, they were more than a political institution. Communities of citizens with their own customs and laws and after 800

    Read More

  • Essay On Ancient Greek Government

    463 Words  | 1 Pages

    nt. Many monarchies, such as Britain and Denmark, are actually governed by parliaments. The first form of this government was founded by Ancient Greece. The ancient greeks had a king or queen that would rule over everyone in the polis. The citizens did not have a say in government and all the choices were left to the government. This kind of government would be great if you had no idea what to do if you had a say in government, but if you did and you weren’t royalty, you would most likely be mistreated and not heard. So this government would be ideal if your people are dumber than sheep and needed to be hearded.

    Read More

  • Greek Mythology: Poseidon

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Poseidon is one of the strongest gods in Greek mythology. Poseidon was the god of water, horses, and earthquakes. He was thought to be the reason for boat wrecks, and drowning’s.

    Read More

  • Greek Mythology

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes, was most at home in the depths of the

    Read More

  • Spongebob Square Pants has Many Attributes of the Greek Gods

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ob Squarepants King Neptune is the king of the ocean which means he has the same responsibilities as Poseidon. Also, King Neptune, like Poseidon, is shown wearing a crown and holding a trident as his symbol of authority over all the creatures of the sea. In many paintings and art forms Poseidon “is represented with the attributes of the trident, tuna, and the dolphin. King Neptune is also given a dolphin tail so he can move around better under the sea. King Neptune and Poseidon are pretty much the same person.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Poseidon

    1523 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ancient Greece was overseen by many gods and goddesses, but there were few gods that held more power than other. Poseidon was one of those gods and he was the god of water, earthquakes and horses. Through his abilities he was capable of doing extraordinary things. We are fortunate enough to some of that power has been recorded and displayed through various art and stories. Poseidon’s power and will was very prominent in ancient Greece through various forms of art, epics, and other oral stories.

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek And Roman Empire

    516 Words  | 2 Pages

    Greek society began by the formation of the city-state. "The city-state, based on tribal allegiances, was generally the first political association during the early stages of civilization." ( Perry, 45) This was the first step in the progression toward early self-government. "Greek city-states generally moved through four stages: rule by a king (monarchy), rule by landowning aristocrats (oligarchy), rule by one man who seized power (tyranny), and rule by the people (democracy). (Perry, 46)

    Read More

  • Poseidon Research Paper

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    Poseidon is a very important God to the Greek culture.Not just because of his powers and ruling of the sea but also because he explains many natural disasters.The Greek culture uses him to also help explain why several events that had occurred in the history of Greece.Giving reasoning to something that they really don’t understand why something had happened.Thats why the Poseidon is famous Greek God that he is today.

    Read More

More about Poseidon

Open Document