Poseidon
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 he 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.
Another infamous story of Poseidon involves the competition
between he and the goddess of war, Athena, for the city of Athens. To win
the people of the city over, Poseidon threw a spear at the ground and produced
the Spring at the Acropolis. However, Athena won as the result of giving
the people of Athens the olive tree. In his anger over the decision, Poseidon
flooded the Attic Plain. Eventually, Athena and Poseidon worked together
by combining their powers. Even though Poseidon was the god of horses,
Athena built the first chariot. Athena also built the first ship to sail
on the sea over which Poseidon ruled.
Poseidon often used his powers of earthquakes, water,
and horses to inflict fear and punishment on people as revenge. Though
he could be difficult and assert his powers over the gods and mortals,
Poseidon could be cooperative and it was he who helped the Greeks during
the Trojan War.
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