The Story of Poseidon
Poseidon was a son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Like his brothers and sisters, he was swallowed by Cronus as soon as he was born, and he stayed imprisoned inside his father until Zeus forced Cronus to set them all free.
Poseidon fought beside Zeus and Hades in the long war against the Titans. The Cyclopes, freed from the underworld, forged him a mighty trident, and with it he could shatter rocks and stir up the sea. When the Titans were defeated, the three brothers drew lots, and Poseidon received the oceans as his kingdom.
He built a shining golden palace deep beneath the waves near Aegae, and he rode across the sea in a chariot pulled by horses with golden manes. Poseidon was moody and quick to anger, and the Greeks believed his rage could whip up storms, sink ships and make the ground shake, which earned him the name Earthshaker.
Poseidon married the sea goddess Amphitrite, who at first fled from him until a dolphin found her and persuaded her to return. Their son Triton became a herald of the sea, blowing on a conch shell to calm or raise the waves. Poseidon also fathered many other children, among them the hero Theseus in some tellings, the Cyclops Polyphemus and the winged horse Pegasus.
Poseidon was proud and often competed with other gods for the love of cities. He lost Athens to Athena and Argos to Hera, and when he lost, he sometimes punished the land with floods or drought. He was also the creator of the horse, and many Greeks honored him as a tamer of horses and a patron of chariot racing.
Sailors, fishermen and horsemen all prayed to Poseidon. His most famous temple still stands on the cliffs of Cape Sounion, looking out over the Aegean, and the Isthmian Games near Corinth were held in his honor every two years. Before a voyage, sailors would offer him sacrifices, sometimes even throwing horses into the sea for a safe journey.
In a land surrounded by water, Poseidon was one of the most important and feared gods of all. The Romans knew him as Neptune, and the planet Neptune carries that name today. His trident remains one of the best known symbols of the sea, a reminder of how much the ancient Greeks depended on the waves he ruled.
Famous Myths About Poseidon
The Contest for Athens
Poseidon and Athena both wanted to be the patron of Athens. Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident and produced a salty spring, while Athena offered an olive tree, and the people chose her gift.
The Walls of Troy
As punishment for rebelling against Zeus, Poseidon and Apollo had to serve King Laomedon of Troy, and Poseidon built the city's mighty walls. When the king refused to pay, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the land.
The Cretan Bull
Poseidon sent a magnificent white bull from the sea for King Minos to sacrifice. Minos kept it instead, so Poseidon made the queen fall in love with the bull, and she gave birth to the Minotaur.
Odysseus and the Cyclops
After Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon's son, the sea god hounded him with storms and shipwrecks. That anger kept Odysseus from reaching home for ten long years.
Poseidon's Family Tree
Frequently Asked Questions About Poseidon
Who is Poseidon in Greek mythology?
Poseidon is the Olympian god of the sea, earthquakes, storms and horses. When the brothers divided the world, he received the sea as his realm.
Who are Poseidon's parents?
Poseidon is a son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus, Hades, Hera, Demeter and Hestia.
Who was Poseidon's wife?
Poseidon's wife was the sea goddess Amphitrite, and their son was Triton. He also fathered many other children, including the Cyclops Polyphemus and the winged horse Pegasus.
What was Poseidon's contest with Athena?
Poseidon and Athena competed to become patron of Athens. Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident to create a saltwater spring, while Athena offered an olive tree, and the Athenians chose Athena.
What are Poseidon's symbols?
Poseidon's main symbols are the trident, the horse, the dolphin and the bull.
What is Poseidon's Roman name?
The Romans called Poseidon Neptune.
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