Poseidon

Poseidon (Greek) Neptune (Roman) Poseidon is the god of the sea and water. He is also the god of horses and earthquakes. He is brother to Zeus and Hades. Symbols that represent him are the trident, a horse and the sea.

Poseidon fought with Athena over who would be the patron of Athens; Poseidon struck the acropolis with his trident, causing a spring of salt water to burst. However, Athena grew an olive tree, which proved to be more useful, and therefore, the city was named Athens. Because of this argument, Poseidon and Athena dislike each other. Poseidon also caused the creation of the Minotaur, half bull, half man. King Minos had proved his right to rule the city of Crete by calling on Poseidon to send a bull from the sea. King Minos promised to sacrifice this bull. Poseidon sent the bull, but Minos favored it too much to sacrifice it. Poseidon then asked Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to make Minos's wife, Pasiphae, fall in love with the bull. Their child was the minotaur.

Poseidon is the father of the hero Theseus, who became King of Athens. He was also father to the cyclopes Polyphemus, who was killed by Odysseus. Poseidon is usually depicted in Greek art riding in a chariot pulled by hippocampus, horses that could ride the sea. He lives in a palace on the ocean floor. Statue of Poseidon in Slovakia



Another statue of Poseidon in Copenhagen

by Meg & Megan