In literacy, we learned about Greek mythology. In Greek, there are a lot of beliefs of god and goddess. So I researched about Poseidon one of the powerful gods. ENJOY!
Poseidon was one of the major deities of Greek mythology. The Ancient Romans name for Poseidon was Neptune. He was known as the god of the sea. He was also the god of earthquakes, storms, horses, rivers, winds, floods, oceans, and drought. He was the immortal ruler of the seas. He was able to manipulate water, storms, and lightings. This powerful god could create strong waves, violent storms to bring the rage of the ocean upon those who angered him. Poseidon possessed a trident to shake the earth, called “Earth Shaker”. Poseidon had a palace underwater as his watery domain, made of gems and corals, located on the ocean floor. He was at Mount Olympus more often than his palace.
Cronus, the leader of the Titans, also, the father of the Olympians, and Rhea known as the mother of gods, they were Poseidon’s parent. He had 2 brothers and two sisters named, Zeus, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera. He and his two brothers, Zeus and Hades, divided up creation. Zeus became ruler of the sky, Hades, the god of the underworld, and Poseidon was given all water (both salt and fresh). Poseidon married to Amphitrite (ancient sea-goddess). These were Poseidon lovers: Aphrodite, Demeter, and various others. Basically, Poseidon had over 100 lovers and over 500 children. His main children were Theseus, Triton, Polyphemus, Belus, Agenor, Neleus, Atlas. Most of Poseidon children were powerful gods and became heroes.
By his birth, Poseidon and other siblings were eaten by Cronus which was his father. Except for Zeus who was saved by his mother, Rhea. A few years after, Zeus came back and gave Cronus the poison drink. Cronus vomited up all of his children. Poseidon was raised by the Telchines. Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades have had war against Cronus and the other Titans. The war lasted for ten years. The three brothers helped to release the Cyclopes (served as builders) from Mother Earth. Cyclopes paid back with gratitude to the three brothers. Poseidon received a trident, Zeus received a thunderbolt, and Hades received a helmet of darkness from Cyclopes. They used all of these weapons to defeat their father and Titans. So then the three brothers became the rulers of the existing world.
Poseidon had green-sea eyes, his hair and beard were wavy browns. Poseidon is often depicted as a mature, muscular and bearded man. He would shatter things and his eyes change to storm grey when he got angry or upset. His sacred animals were horse, Dolphin, Bull, and fish. He typically was shown holding his powerful three-pronged spear called a trident (his symbol of power) and sometimes accompanied by dolphins. His powerful trident could create water sources everywhere in Greece and the horse. The trident can also caused earthquakes, and used to stir up tidal waves, tsunamis and sea storms. The horse was also a common symbol of Poseidon. He created many different kinds of horses: Pegasi, Unicorns and, hippocampuses. Sometimes he was shown riding his chariot that pulls by hippocampus (the horse that had fishtail). Additionally, the bull was one of Poseidon symbols because Poseidon sent the bull to Minos, and then Minos liked it too much to sacrifice it. So Poseidon asked Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to make Minos’s queen, Pasiphae (queen of Crete), fall in love with the bull.
Poseidon was a very important god in many Greek cities. The Winter Solstice celebrations are for Poseidon. In Athens and other parts of ancient Greece, roughly December/January there is a month that they agreed to name it Poseideon for Poseidon. The Poseidonia of Aegina, happen the same month as Winter Solstice, it lasts for 16 days. A festival held every year in Aegina for high respect of Poseidon. It seems to have been celebrated by all the people live on the island. There was a festival every five years at Sunium in honor of Poseidon as well. Also, animal offerings to Poseidon were a common feature at the feast days. Another festival for Poseidon held every two years it was called the Isthmian games, it was the second most important Olympics in Ancient Greece. Corinth chose Poseidon, lord of the sea, as their city-state patron god because they are located on the sea and depend on the ocean. So the sailors gave the offering to Poseidon like food or fish hook to keep the waters calm and make Poseidon happy. Otherwise, he will devastate the world by causing earthquake or flood.
One of the most important myths was involving the god Poseidon when Apollo offended Zeus. Zeus sent them to the king of Troy, Laomedon. Laomedon said he will give a great gift if they build the Trojan walls. Apollo was in charge of King Laomedon’s livestock, Poseidon was tasked with building up the walls of Troy. Poseidon decided to help to build the wall of city Troy. After the two gods had constructed the city (huge walls around the city), Laomedon’s greed caused him to refuse to fulfill the payments to the gods. This action made Poseidon very upset and his furious feelings to attack back to Laomedon that tricked him. Poseidon created a sea monster that caused trouble to Trojans. Another important myth of Poseidon was Cecrops had to find a patron deity for the city state of Athens. Poseidon and Athena (goddess of wisdom) decided to battle for Athens. Cecrops he asked each of them to give a valuable gift for Athens. Poseidon struck the earth with his trident. He created the water well, but it was salty and not useful. Athena stuck her spear into the ground and planted an olive branch which is the symbol of peace. Cecrops choose Athena to patron the city of Athens. Poseidon was extremely angry with Cencrop’s decision and cursed the city of Athens to never have enough water. It became the major problem of water shortage in Athens.
Poseidon is the Greek word for ‘husband’. In Greek mythology, the sea god Poseidon was one of the most lascivious of the gods, producing more offspring than other randy gods. However, Poseidon was a very creative god, he designed all of the earth sea creatures. His emotional fluctuations often resulted in violence. His biggest weakness was to manipulate his feeling, Poseidon was very moody, unpredictable, and very bold. As I mentioned above, Poseidon was the Greek ‘God of the Sea’, and the god of earthquakes, horses, and storms, and as well as one of the 12 of the gods at Mount Olympus. Poseidon had a lot of powers included the ability to control the ocean, create storms, clear bad weather, and create earthquakes. There were statues of Poseidon in Gothenburg, Sweden, in Presov, Slovakia, in Bristol, England, and in Berlin, Germany. He ruled the seas and everyone would often pray to him on voyages at sea to keep them safe.
Works Cited
Poseidon, www.mythweb.com/gods/poseidon.html.
Becker, Derrick. “Poseidon’s Birth Story.” Prezi.com, 28 May 2013, prezi.com/txtlprbce5c3/poseidons-birth-story/.
“Festival of Poseidon.” Pagan Calendar, shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/festival-of-poseidon/.
Gill, N.S. “Everything You Need to Know About Poseidon, The Greek God of the Sea.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/greek-god-poseidon-king-of-sea-120417.
Gill, N.S. “Greek Winter Solstice Celebration in Honor of Poseidon.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/greek-winter-solstice-celebrations-120989.
Gill, N.S. “Greek Winter Solstice Celebration in Honor of Poseidon.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/greek-winter-solstice-celebrations-120989.
Gill, N.S. “Greek Winter Solstice Celebration in Honor of Poseidon.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/greek-winter-solstice-celebrations-120989.
“King Laomedon in Greek Mythology.” Greek Legends and Myths, www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/laomedon.html.
“Myth Man’s Poseidon, God of the Seas.” Olympian Gods, majorolympians.com/poseidon.html.
O'Reilly, Rachel. “Poseidon- God of the Sea.” Prezi.com, 28 Jan. 2013, prezi.com/nfj4ec0tzzsa/poseidon-god-of-the-sea/.
O'Reilly, Rachel. “Poseidon- God of the Sea.” Prezi.com, 28 Jan. 2013, prezi.com/nfj4ec0tzzsa/poseidon-god-of-the-sea/.
“POSEIDON – Greek God of the Sea & Earthquakes.” Theoi Greek Mythology, www.theoi.com/Olympios/Poseidon.html.
“Poseidon.” Myths Encyclopedia, www.mythencyclopedia.com/Pa-Pr/Poseidon.html.
“Poseidon.” Myths Encyclopedia, www.mythencyclopedia.com/Pa-Pr/Poseidon.html.
“Poseidon • Facts and Information on Greek God Poseidon.” Greek Gods & Goddesses, greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/poseidon/.
“Poseidon: Myths.” Greek Mythology: Poseidon, greekmythologyposeidon1.weebly.com/poseidon-myths.html.
Reese, Robert James. “A History of Poseidon.” RobertJamesReese.com, robertjamesreese.com/essays/a-history-of-poseidon.
Wigington, Patti. “Poseidon, Greek God of the Sea.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/poseidon-greek-god-of-the-seas-25619