Poseidon
Also known as: Posidon · Poseidōn
- 1Poseidon is the god of the sea, storms, earthquakes, and horses.
- 2He is one of the twelve Olympians.
- 3He is known by the cult title earth shaker.
- 4He carries a trident used to create springs.
- 5His Roman equivalent is Neptune.
Poseidon is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.
Connections1
Divine antagonist and source of the curse
Poseidon sent the Cretan Bull to Minos as a sign of favor, but when Minos failed to sacrifice it, the god punished him by causing Pasiphae to fall in love with the bull.
Poseidon is a major deity in ancient Greek religion, recognized as one of the twelve Olympians. He holds dominion over the sea, storms, earthquakes, and horses. Often referred to as the "earth shaker," he was a vital figure for seafarers and the protector of numerous Hellenic cities and colonies. His influence was widespread, with historical evidence of his veneration as a chief deity at sites like Pylos and Thebes during the Bronze Age.
Statue of Poseidon in Germany by Johann David Räntz and Lorenz Wilhelm Räntz (1760).Wikimedia Commons: File:Bayreuth_Hofgarten_Neues_Schloss,_Neptun-Poseidon_(Original,_Orangerie),_11.07.08.jpgPoseidon pursuing a woman, probably by Achilleus painter, 480–450BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan NYWikimedia Commons: File:Poseidon_pursuing_Met_41.162.139.jpgPoseidon greeting Theseus (on the right). Detail, Attic red-figured calyx-krater by Syriscos Painter, 450-500BC from Agrigento. BnF Museum (Cabinet des médailles), ParisWikimedia Commons: File:Poseidon_enthroned_De_Ridder_418_CdM_Paris.jpg Beyond his maritime authority, Poseidon was deeply associated with the natural world. He was considered the father or tamer of horses and was believed to have the power to create springs by striking the earth with his trident. In Roman mythology, he is identified by the equivalent name Neptune, maintaining his status as a powerful and essential force in the ancient Mediterranean world.