Reference
- Poseidon(pōsī'dӘn), in Greek religion and mythology, god of the sea, protector of all waters. After the fall of the Titans, Poseidon was allotted the sea. He was worshiped especially in connection with navigation; but as the god of fresh waters he also was worshiped as a fertility god. In Thessaly and other areas he was important as Hippios, god of horses, and was the father of Pegasus. Poseidon was represented as extremely powerful, with a violent and vengeful disposition. He carried the trident, with which he could split boulders and cause earthquakes. When Laomedon failed to pay him for building the walls of Troy, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the Troad and years later vengefully assisted the Greeks in the Trojan War. His grudge against Odysseus is one of the themes of the Odyssey. He was the husband of Amphitrite, who bore him Triton, and by others he fathered many more sons, who usually turned out to be strong, brutal men (like Orion) or monsters (like Polyphemus). The Romans identified him with Neptune.
- NeptuneIn Roman religion, the god of water. Neptune was originally the god of fresh water, but by 399 bc he was identified with the Greek god Poseidon and thus became a deity of the sea. His female counterpart, Salacia, probably began as a goddess of spring water but was later equated with the Greek goddess Amphitrite. Neptune’s festival (Neptunalia) took place in the heat of summer (July 23), when fresh water was scarcest. In art Neptune is often given Poseidon’s attributes, the trident and dolphin.
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Perspectives
The Odyssey in Athens
A study in poetic interaction, The Odyssey in Athens explores the ways in which narrative structure and parallels within and between epic poems create or disclose meaning. Erwin F. Cook also broadens the scope of this intertextual approach to include the relationship of Homeric epic to ritual. Specifically he argues that the Odyssey achieved its form as a written text within the context of Athenian civic cults during the reign of Peisistratos. Focusing on the prologue and the Apologoi (Books 9-12), Cook shows how the traditional Greek polarity between force and intelligence informs the Odyssean narrative at all levels of composition. He then uses this polarity to explain instances of Odyssean self-reference, allusions to other epic traditions--in particular the Iliad--and interaction between the poem and its performance context in Athenian civic ritual. This detailed structural analysis, with its insights into the circumstances and meaning of the Odyssey's composition, will lead to a new understanding of the Homeric epics and the tradition they evoked.
Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome
Represents a wide range of deities in the Greek and Roman pantheons, from Zeus and Jupiter to Eos and Quirinus. Includes discussions of the significance of the given deities, the mythology surrounding them, and the forms of worship associated with them.
The Everything Classical Mythology Book
Romance, betrayal, passion, tragedy, violence, and scandal. No, it's not the latest reality TV search for love--it's classical mythology. For years, people have turned to the ancient Greek and Roman myths for entertaining reading, unbelievable storylines, unique characters, and unparalleled drama. This guide explains the great stories and how they still influence literature, entertainment, and everyday life. From heroes and heroines to monsters and villains, this entertaining guide covers it all. Inside, you will learn how: The Greeks defeated the Titans Odysseus tricked the Cyclops Hercules accomplished the twelve labors Peruses slew Medusa The Greeks bested the Trojans Hades abducted Persephone Bellerophon killed the Chimera With an easy reference chart of the gods and goddesses and their interrelations, this action-packed book helps you bring classical mythology to life!
Poseidon, God of the Sea
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Greek sailors prayed to Poseidon before sailing out to sea and offered him the first fish they caught. Athenians attribute their naval victory over Persia to Poseidon.
Poseidon Sides with the Greeks
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowPoseidon intervened on the side of the Greeks during the Trojan War; however, he became infuriated with the Greeks for their cruelty towards their defeated enemies and sank many of the Greek ships returning from the war.
Poseidon
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowPoseidon intervened in the drama between Hephaestus and Aphrodite to win Aphrodite's favor.
Poseidon, Power Over the Sea
- Films on Demand This link opens in a new windowThe Greeks worshipped Poseidon all along the coast, revering his power over the sea. After the victory against the Titans and Giants, Zeus became the god of earth, Hades became the god of the underworld, and Poseidon became god of the sea.
Online Resources
- GREEK MYTHS POSEIDON: GOD OF THE SEASNapoli presents the story of Poseidon, the god of the seas in Greek mythology. The Olympian gods won its war against the Titans. Zeus appointed his brother Poseidon ruler of the seas. Poseidon knew Zeus felt the seas were an inferior realm. But nothing could've pleased Poseidon more. With his hair flying out behind him, he swam the seas in search of those who might need help. It was a welcome antidote to that tedious war. And when he wasn't patrolling, he let himself be absorbed in the watery mysteries.
- The palace of PoseidonAccording to ancient Greek mythology, Poseidon is lord of the sea. Let's pretend you are exploring his underwater palace looking for treasure. It's a nice place to visit . . . if Poseidon himself isn't around. He's a moody and irascible sort, and is called the "Earth Shaker" because when he strikes the planet with his trident, it trembles.
- Poseidon, walls, and narrative complexity in the Homeric IliadThe sea god Poseidon is taken for granted as such in Classical Greek literature and iconography. Yet one does not have to look far in the literary or iconographical sources to find material that conveys a somewhat different impression. This has been noticed, and in the past there have been some interesting attempts to surmise Poseidon's origins and significance from the evidence at hand. This paper is not an attempt to reconstruct a putative Mycenaean deity, but will examine certain episodes of the Homeric Iliad to suggest possible reasons for the inconsistencies and anomalies that appear.