Poseidon
The god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses — ruler of the deep, shaker of the earth, and rival of Athena for Athens.
Overview
Poseidon (Greek: Ποσειδῶν; Mycenaean: po-se-da-o; Roman: Neptune) was the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses — brother of Zeus and Hades, ruler of the watery third of the cosmos. He was one of the most widely worshipped deities of the Greek world, particularly in maritime and coastal communities, and his cult was among the oldest in Greece, attested prominently in the Mycenaean Linear B tablets.[1]
In the Mycenaean period, Poseidon may have been the chief deity at Pylos — his name appears more frequently in the Pylos tablets than any other god, receiving the largest offerings. His subsequent subordination to Zeus in the Classical pantheon may reflect post-Mycenaean religious reorganization.[1]
Domains
The Sea
After the Olympians’ victory over the Titans, the cosmos was divided by lot: Zeus received the sky, Hades the underworld, and Poseidon the sea. He ruled from a golden palace beneath the waves, riding a chariot drawn by hippocampi (horse-fish hybrids). His moods governed the sea’s temper — and in a maritime civilization, this made him one of the most practically important gods.[1]
Earthquakes
Poseidon was Ennosichthon / Enosigaios (“Earth-Shaker”) — the god of earthquakes. Greece sits on one of the most seismically active zones in Europe, and earthquakes were attributed to Poseidon striking the earth with his trident. This role connected him to the deep geological forces beneath both sea and land.[1]
Horses
Poseidon Hippios (“Of Horses”) was the creator and patron of horses. He fathered the divine horse Arion and the winged horse Pegasus (from Medusa). The chariot race at the Isthmian Games (near Corinth) — second only to the Olympics in prestige — was held in his honor.[4]
The horse association is puzzling for a sea god but may reflect Poseidon’s character as a nature deity of overwhelming power — waves and horses share the imagery of wild, cresting force.[1]
Mythology
The Contest for Athens
Poseidon competed with Athena for patronage of the city of Athens. Poseidon struck the Acropolis rock with his trident, producing a salt spring (or, in some versions, the first horse). Athena planted an olive tree. The gods (or the citizens) judged Athena’s gift more useful. Poseidon, furious, flooded the Thriasian Plain. The myth was depicted on the west pediment of the Parthenon.[1]
The Odyssey
Poseidon is the principal divine antagonist of the Odyssey. After Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus — Poseidon’s son — the god pursued Odysseus across the seas for ten years, wrecking his ships and driving him to the world’s edges. Poseidon’s wrath against Odysseus is the engine driving Homer’s epic.
Building the Walls of Troy
Poseidon and Apollo, punished by Zeus, were forced to serve King Laomedon of Troy, building the city’s walls. When Laomedon refused to pay them, Poseidon sent a sea monster against Troy — establishing his grudge against the city that lasted through the Trojan War.
Major Cult Centers
| Site | Significance |
|---|---|
| Cape Sounion | Temple overlooking the Aegean; landmark for sailors (surviving columns) |
| Isthmia (Corinth) | Isthmian Games sanctuary; major Poseidon temple |
| Pylos | Mycenaean cult center; most attested deity in Linear B tablets |
| Tenos | Poseidon and Amphitrite sanctuary |
| Helike | Ancient city destroyed by earthquake and tsunami (373 BCE) — divine judgment attributed to Poseidon’s anger |
The temple at Cape Sounion — its white marble columns visible from far out at sea — was the first landmark sailors saw when approaching Athens. Byron carved his name on one of its columns in 1810.
Iconography
- Mature bearded man — Similar in majesty to Zeus but distinguished by the trident
- Trident (triaina) — His primary weapon and symbol; originally a fishing spear
- Chariots pulled by horses or hippocampi — Across the sea surface
- Often depicted emerging from or standing in the sea
- The great bronze statue found at Cape Artemision (c. 460 BCE, now in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens) is either Poseidon or Zeus — scholars remain divided
Poseidon and the Mediterranean
For a civilization defined by the sea, Poseidon’s practical importance cannot be overstated:
- Every ship departure required sacrifice to Poseidon
- Isthmian Games — The only Panhellenic games dedicated to Poseidon
- Harbor sanctuaries — Poseidon had shrines at nearly every major Greek port
- Shipwrecks — Attributed to Poseidon’s anger; sailors who survived dedicated offerings
Primary Sources
- Homer, Odyssey passim — Poseidon as antagonist
- Homer, Iliad 13–15 — Poseidon enters the Trojan War
- Homeric Hymn to Poseidon (22) — Brief hymn
- Pindar, Isthmian Odes — Isthmian Games context
- Pausanias — Temple descriptions across Greece
See also: Greek Pantheon · Athena · Apollo · Classical Greece · Mycenaean