Poseidon
In Greek mythology, Poseidon (Greek: Ποσειδών; Latin: Neptūnus) was the god of the sea, as well as of horses and, as "Earth-Shaker", of earthquakes. The sea gods Rodon in Illyrian mythology, Nethuns in Etruscan, and Neptune in Roman mythology were all analogous to Poseidon (or directly derivative of him).
Bronze Age Greece
If surviving Linear B clay tablets can be trusted; the name PO-SE-DA-WO-NE ("Poseidon") occurs with greater frequency than does DI-U-JA (Zeus). A feminine variant, PO-SE-DE-IA, is also found, indicating a lost consort goddess. Tablets from Pylos record sacrificial goods destined for "the Two Queens and Poseidon" and to "the Two Queens and the King". The most obvious identification for the "Two Queens" is with Demeter and Persephone, or their precursors, goddesses who were not associated with Poseidon in later periods.
Poseidon is already identified as "Earth-Shaker"— E-NE-SI-DA-O-NE— in Mycenaean Knossos [1], a powerful attribution in a society where earthquakes were credited with the collapse of the Minoan palace-culture. In the heavily sea-dependent Mycenean culture, no connection between Poseidon and the sea has yet surfaced; among the Olympians, it was determined by lot that he should rule over the sea.[2] In other words, the god preceded his realm.
Poseidon was a major civic god of several cities: in Athens, he was second only to Athena in importance; while in Corinth and many cities of Magna Graecia, he was the chief god of the polis.<reference?>
According to Pausanias, Poseidon was one of the caretakers of the Oracle at Delphi before Olympian Apollo became its patron. Apollo and Poseidon worked closely in many realms: in colonization, for example, Apollo provided the authorization to go out and settle from Delphi, while Poseidon watched over the colonists on their way, and provided the lustral water for the foundation-sacrifice.<source?> Further, Xenophon's Anabasis describes a group of Spartan soldiers singing to a paean to Poseidon - a type of hymn normally reserved for Apollo.
Later Myth
Birth and triumph over Cronus
Poseidon was a son of Cronus and Rhea. In most accounts, he is swallowed by Cronus at birth. However in some versions of the story, he, like his brother Zeus, did not share the fate of his other brother and sisters who were eaten by Cronos. He was saved by his mother Rhea who tricked Cronus into eating a foal instead, saying that she had given birth to a horse. Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the Hecatonchires, Gigantes and Cyclopes overthrew Cronus and the other Titans. According to other variants, Poseidon was raised by the Telchines on Rhodes, just as Zeus was raised by the Korybantes on Crete.
When the world was divided in three, Zeus received the sky, Hades the underworld and Poseidon the sea.
Lovers
His wife was Amphitrite, a nymph and ancient sea-goddess, daughter of Nereus and Doris.
Poseidon was also thought to have raped Aethra thus fathering the famed Theseus.
In an archaic myth, Poseidon once pursued Demeter. She spurned his advances, turning herself into a mare so that she could hide in a herd of horses; he saw through the deception and became a stallion and captured her. Their child was a horse, Arion, which was capable of human speech.
Poseidon had an affair with Alope, his granddaughter through Cercyon, begetting Hippothoon. Cercyon had his daughter buried alive but Poseidon turned her into the spring, Alope, near Eleusis.
Poseidon rescued Amymone from a lecherous satyr and then fathered a child, Nauplius, by her.
A mortal woman named Tyro was married to Cretheus (with whom she had one son, Aeson) but loved Enipeus, a river god. She pursued Enipeus, who refused her advances. One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus and from their union were born Pelias and Neleus, twin boys.
With Medusa, Poseidon had sexual intercourse on the floor of a temple to Athena. Medusa was changed into a monster. When she was later beheaded by the hero Perseus, Chrysaor and Pegasus emerged from her neck.
After having sex with Caeneus, Poseidon fulfilled her request and changed her into a man.
Homeric Hymn to Poseidon
The hymn to Poseidon included among the Homeric Hymns is a brief invocation, a seven-line introduction that addresses the god as both "mover of the earth and barren sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide Aegae[3], and specificies his twofold nature as an Olympian: "a tamer of horses and a saviour of ships."
Other stories
Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens after a competition with Poseidon. They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprung up; the water was salty and not very useful, whereas Athena offered them an olive tree. The Athenians (or their king, Cecrops) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food. This is thought to remember a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants. It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the Persian fleet at Salamis Island in a sea battle. Another version of the myth says that Poseidon gave horses to Athens.
Poseidon and Apollo, having offended Zeus, were sent to serve King Laomedon. He had them build huge walls around the city and promised to reward them well, a promise he then refused to fulfill. In vengeance, before the Trojan War, Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy (it was later killed by Heracles).
In the Iliad Poseidon favors the Greeks, and on several occasion takes an active part in the battle against the Trojan forces. However, in Book XX he rescues Aeneas after the Trojan prince is laid low by Achilles.
In the Odyssey, Poseidon is notable for his hatred of Odysseus due to the latter's having blinded the god's son Polyphemus. The enmity of Poseidon prevents Odysseus's return home to Ithaca for many years. Odysseus is even told, notwithstanding his ultimate safe return, that to placate the wrath of Poseidon will require one more voyage on his part.
In the Aeneid, Neptune is still resentful of the wandering Trojans, but is not as vindictive as Juno, and in Book I he rescues the Trojan fleet from the goddess's attempts to wreck it, although his primary motivation for doing this is his annoyance at Juno's having intruded into his domain.
Consorts/children
Not all of Poseidon's children are human. There is Triton, the merman; Pegasus, the winged horse; Polyphemus, the cyclops; and Oto and Ephialtae, the giants.
Gill, N.S. (2007). Mates and Children of Poseidon (in English). Retrieved 2007-02-05.
- With Aethra
- With Alope
- Hippothoon
- With Amphitrite
- Rhode
- Triton
- Benthesikyme
- With Amymone
- Nauplius
- With Astypalaea
- Ancaeus
- Eurypylos
- With Canace
- Aloeus
- Epopeus
- Hopelus
- Nireus
- Triopas
- With Celaeno
- Lycus
- With Chione
- Eumolpus
- With Chloris
- Poriclymenus
- With Clieto
- Atlas
- Eymelus
- Ampheres
- Evaemon
- Mneseus
- Autochthon
- Elasippus
- Mestor
- Azaes
- Diaprepes
- With Demeter
- Arion
- Despina
- With Europa
- Euphemus
- With Euryale
- Orion
- With Gaia
- Antaeus
- Charybdis
- With Halia
- Rhode
- With Hiona
- Hios
- With Hippothoe
- Taphius
- With Libya
- Belus
- Agenor
- Lelex
- With Lybie
- With Melia
- Amycus
- With Medusa
- Pegasus
- Chrysaor
- With Periboea
- Nausithous
- With Satyrion
- Taras
- With Thoosa
- Polyphemus
- With Tyro
- Neleus
- Pelias
- Unknown mother
- Aon
- Byzas
- Cercyon
- Cycnus
- Evadne
- Lotis
- Rhodus
- Sinis
Poseidon Festival
Was widely celebrated at the beginning of the winter. [4]
Role in society
Sailors prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice. In his benign aspect, Poseidon created new islands and offered calm seas. When offended or ignored, he struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.
Depiction in Greek Art
Poseidon's chariot was pulled by a hippocampus or horses that could ride on the sea. He was associated with dolphins and three-pronged fish spears (tridents). He lived in a palace on the ocean floor, made of coral and gems.
Neptune
Neptune was worshipped by the Romans primarily as a horse god, Neptune Equester, patron of horse-racing. He had a temple near the race tracks in Rome (built in 25 B.C.E.), the Circus Flaminius, as well as one in the Campus Martius, where on July 23, the Neptunalia was observed.
Spoken-word myths - audio files
| Poseidon myths as told by story tellers |
|---|
| 1. Poseidon and Pelops, part I, (integral to Tantalus myth), read by Timothy Carter |
| Bibliography of reconstruction: Homer, Odyssey, 11.567 (7th c. BC); Pindar, Olympian Odes, 1 (476 B.C.E.); Euripides, Orestes, 12-16 (408 B.C.E.); Apollodorus, Epitomes 2: 1-9 (140 B.C.E.); Ovid, Metamorphoses, VI: 213, 458 (AD 8); Hyginus, Fables, 82: Tantalus; 83: Pelops (1st c. AD); Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2.22.3 (AD 160 - 176) |
| 2. Poseidon and Pelops, part II (Integral to the myth of Pelops and Hippodameia), read by Timothy Carter |
| Bibliography of reconstruction: Pindar, Olympian Ode, I (476 B.C.E.); Sophocles, (1) Electra, 504 (430 - 415 B.C.E.) & (2) Oenomaus, Fr. 433 (408 B.C.E.); Euripides, Orestes, 1024-1062 (408 B.C.E.); Apollodorus, Epitomes 2, 1-9 (140 B.C.E.); Diodorus Siculus, Histories, 4.73 (1st c. BC); Hyginus, Fables, 84: Oinomaus; Poetic Astronomy, ii (1st c. AD); Pausanias, Description of Greece, 5.1.3 - 7; 5.13.1; 6.21.9; 8.14.10 - 11 (c. AD 160 - 176); Philostratus the Elder Imagines, I.30: Pelops (AD 170 - 245); Philostratus the Younger, Imagines, 9: Pelops (c. AD 200 - 245); First Vatican Mythographer, 22: Myrtilus; Atreus et Thyestes; Second Vatican Mythographer, 146: Oenomaus |
- Neptune fountain02.jpg
Neptune in Bologna, Italy.
Neptune in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Gliwice-Fontanna-Naptuna.JPG
Neptune in Gliwice, Poland.
- MillesPoseidon.jpg
Neptune in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Neptune Mexico.jpg
Neptune in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Neptune Adam 1725 La County Museum California.jpg
Neptune in Los Angeles, the United States.
- Lwów04a.jpg
Neptune in Lviv, Ukraine.
- Neptun Fountain in Olomouc.jpg
Neptune in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
- Neptun Poznan.jpg
Neptune in Poznań, Poland.
Notes
- ↑ Michael Ventris & John Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek second ed. (Cambridge 1973), Document #172 (from Pylos), page 463
- ↑ Powell, 149.
- ↑ The ancient palace-city that was replaced by Vergina
- ↑ Noel Robertson, "Poseidon's Festival at the Winter Solstice", The Classical Quarterly, New Series, 34.1 (1984), pp. 1-16.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Walter Burkert, Greek Religion (1977) 1985.
- Greek Mythology resource
- Theoi.com: Poseidon
- The story of Poseidon and Pelops
- Gods found in Mycenaean Greece; a table drawn up from Michael Ventris and John Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek second edition (Cambridge 1973)
- Jenks, Kathleen (2003-04). Mythic themes clustered around Poseidon/Neptune. Myth*ing links. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
