Poseidon (Ancient Greek: Ποσειδῶν), the crowned King of the Seas, reigns over several domains as the God of the Seas, Flooding, Earthquakes, Droughts, and Horses. He is the second son and fifth child of the Titans Kronos and Rhea, tracing his lineage to the grand-parentage of Ouranos and Gaia. Poseidon sealed his sovereignty over the sea through matrimony with Amphitrite, the marine goddess who ranks as the eldest progeny of Nereus and the first granddaughter of Pontos. This union bolstered his control over the watery realms and bore fruit in the form of their four children. Beyond his divine lineage, Poseidon sired a diverse array of mortal offspring, including formidable giants such as Antaios, the cyclops Polyphemus, legendary horses like Pegasus and Arion, as well as a multitude of human kings, heroes, and both virtuous and villainous figures, among them Theseus and Bellerophon.
Birth & Titanomachy[]
Poseidon, the fifth offspring of Kronos and Rhea, entered the world following Hestia, Demeter, Hera, and Hades, in that order. Kronos, driven by the fear of being overthrown by one of his children, resorted to a dreadful act. He devoured each of his newborn children as they arrived. Poseidon became the last to endure this cruel fate. However, Rhea, desperate to protect her sixth child, Zeus, devised a cunning ruse. She presented Kronos with a rock swathed in blankets, which he unwittingly consumed. When Zeus matured, he administered a potent emetic to his father, compelling him to regurgitate the swallowed offspring. The five children emerged from their father's belly in reverse order, conferring upon Poseidon the unique status of being both the second youngest and second oldest among his siblings simultaneously.
With their liberation, Zeus assumed a position of power atop the majestic peaks of Mount Olympus and embarked on an unyielding campaign against their father. To bolster his forces, Zeus descended into the abyss of Tartaros, where he rescued his uncles, the Cyclopes—three colossal beings, each endowed with a singular, orb-like eye. During their protracted captivity at the hands of their father, Ouranos, the Cyclopes had honed the craft of blacksmithing, forging indispensable implements for the Gods' quest for supremacy. They equipped Poseidon with a trident bearing three prongs to command the seas.
Following a relentless decade of warfare, marked by an uncertain outcome, Gaia foresaw that ultimate victory necessitated the involvement of her last three sons: the Hekatoncheires, towering beings, each furnished with fifty heads and a hundred arms. Assisted by their uncles and the loyalty of certain Titans who switched allegiances, the Gods launched a decisive offensive. As Zeus unleashed torrents of lightning from the heavens, the Gods and Cyclopes engaged in fierce close combat, while the Hekatoncheires served as living catapults, hurling boulders in all directions with astounding rapidity.
In the climactic final assault, the Titans faced a definitive defeat, and Zeus emerged as the triumphant leader, ascending to the throne as the King of the Gods. As retribution for their roles in the imprisonment of the Gods, the Cyclopes and the Hekatoncheires: Kronos and his compatriots, were consigned to the shadowy depths of Tartaros. Driven by a fervent desire to settle scores with their brethren, who had once promised to liberate them after their victory over Ouranos, the Hekatoncheires beseeched Zeus for permission to return to Tartaros, where they could serve as custodians over the captive Titans.
With their father and adversaries defeated, Zeus and his brothers convened atop Mount Olympus to impartially apportion the vast cosmos among themselves. Drawing lots, they allocated distinct realms to govern. Poseidon, staking his claim, presided over the boundless seas, while Hades assumed dominion over the enigmatic Underworld. Zeus, in his supreme authority, reigned over the vast skies. Their pact included an agreement that Earth and Olympus—referring not to the mountain itself but to the celestial realm—would remain shared territories, belonging to each of them.
Contest of the Cities[]
Athens[]
Following the establishment of a magnificent city in Attica, its citizens found themselves in a spirited debate over which of the Olympian deities should become the patron of their new homeland. Both Poseidon and his niece, Athena, ardently vied for this prestigious position. As tradition dictated, during the dissolution festival known as Skira, which marked the end of the year in their calendar, the priests of Athena and the priests of Poseidon would embark on processions to Eleusis, each sheltered beneath their respective canopies. They arrived at a compromise: each deity would offer a single gift to the people, and it would be left to the King to decide which gift would earn their favor.
Poseidon, wielding his mighty trident, thrust it into the earth, causing a spring to gush forth. Yet, to the dismay of the citizens, the water that flowed was salty and of limited utility. In contrast, Athena bestowed upon them the gift of an olive tree. King Cecrops, after careful consideration, chose the olive tree and, by extension, Athena as the city's patron. This wise choice carried manifold benefits, for the olive tree provided valuable resources such as wood, oil, and sustenance. In homage to Athena, the city was christened Athens in her honor.
In a fit of rage at his defeat, Poseidon unleashed a catastrophic deluge upon the Attic Plain, seeking retribution against the Athenians for their preference for Athena. The depression formed by the strike of Poseidon's trident filled with saltwater and became the focal point of the northern hall of the Erechtheum, an enduring testament to this divine rivalry, remaining open to the air.
Corinth[]
The Corinthians possessed a myth analogous to the founding tale of Athens. According to this legend, Helios and Poseidon found themselves embroiled in a fierce rivalry, both harboring a fervent desire to claim the city as their own. To resolve their contentious dispute, they turned to one of the Hekatoncheires, Briareos, who undertook the responsibility of adjudicating between the two deities. Briareus, after due course, rendered a verdict that involved dividing the city between the competing gods.
In accordance with Briareus's decision, Helios, as the Sun God, was awarded dominion over the portion of the city that reached toward the heavens, known as the Acrocorinth. In contrast, Poseidon's domain extended to the Corinthian isthmus, stretching along the coastline by the sea. This equitable division settled their rivalry, granting each deity a share of the city.
Argos[]
Poseidon found himself entangled in yet another dispute, this time with his sister Hera, concerning the city of Argos. In a bid to settle this contentious matter, the choice fell upon a local king named Phoroneus, who assumed the role of arbiter. Phoroneus ultimately rendered a verdict in favor of Hera, designating her as the city's patroness. However, this decision ignited Poseidon's wrath, and he retaliated by inflicting a devastating drought upon the city. In the midst of this calamity, an Argive woman named Amymone ventured out in search of water. During her quest, she encountered a satyr who attempted to violate her. In her distress, Amymone implored Poseidon for assistance. Responding to her plea, Poseidon intervened, brandishing his trident to drive the lecherous satyr away. Following this act of salvation, Poseidon and Amymone became entwined, leading to the birth of their offspring, Nauplius.
Islands[]
Sometime later, Poseidon came to an agreement with the Goddess Leto that he would give her the island of Delos in exchange for the island of Calauria. He also exchanged Delphi for Taenarum with Leto's son, Apollo.
Marriage to Amphitrite[]
Poseidon's consort is Amphitrite, who holds the esteemed title of Goddess-Queen of the Sea. She stands as the eldest among the fifty Nereids, daughters of Nereus, and her radiance captivated Poseidon's heart while she danced with her sisters on the enchanting island of Naxos. Initially, Amphitrite resisted Poseidon's advances and sought refuge in the shadow of her cousin Atlas. However, Poseidon's unwavering determination led him to pursue her with the assistance of marine creatures.
Ultimately, it was a dolphin that played a pivotal role in locating the elusive Goddess and persuading her to accept Poseidon's proposal. In recognition of the dolphin's extraordinary contribution, Poseidon bestowed upon it the gift of immortality, immortalizing it among the stars as the constellation Delphinus.
From his union with Amphitrite, Poseidon became the father of four divine offspring.
- Triton, the merman God of the Depth of the Sea. He armed himself with a conch shell, the blowing of which brings the waves to heel. He later married the Okeanide Libya, by whom he fathered several nymphs.
- Rhode is the Goddess of the Aegean Islands. She became the wife of the Sun God Helios and bore him seven sons.
- Kymopoleia is the Goddess of Violent Storm Waves and the wife of Briareos, one of the Hekatoncheires. Together, they have one daughter: Oiolyka, the Goddess of Breaking Waves.
- Benthesikyme is a Goddess of Waves and the wife of King Enalos of Ethiopia. She gave birth to two daughters with King Enalos and served as foster mother to her half-brother Eumolpos.
Affairs & Lovers[]
For a complete list of Divine, Semi-Divine, and Mortal Lovers of Poseidon, please see Lovers & Children of Poseidon.
Goddesses & Gods[]
- Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was loved by Poseidon and bore him a daughter: the sea-nymph Herophile.
- Asteria, Titan-Goddess of Falling Stars, was pursued by Poseidon. In his attempted seduction of her, she transformed herself into the floating island of Delos.
- Demeter, the Goddess of Agriculture, fled the advances of Poseidon and hid among the herds of Onkios in the shape of a horse. Poseidon assumed the form of a stallion and coupled with her. From this union were born the goddess Despoine and the immortal horse Arion.
- Gaia, the Protogenoi of Earth, was a consort of Poseidon. She bore him two children: Antaios, who became King of Libya, and Kharybdis, an immortal Giant who waged war against Zeus and the Olympians.
- Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, was wooed by both Poseidon and Apollon. But she, declaring her desire to remain a virgin, retired to the palace of Zeus and kept her maidenhood.
- Khione, the Goddess of Snow, was seduced by Poseidon and bore him a son Eumolpos.
- Nerites, a minor Sea God, brother of Amphitrite, and Charioteer of Poseidon, was loved Poseidon. After declaring himself a better charioteer than Helios, the offended Sun God transformed Nerites into a shell fish.
- Thetis, A sea-goddess and Nereid-nymph, was wooed by both Zeus and Poseidon. Both gods withdrew from their pursuit when it was revealed that Thetis was destined to bear a child greater than its father.
Offspring[]
For a complete list of Divine, Semi-Divine, Mortal and Animal Children of Poseidon, please see Lovers & Children of Poseidon.
Divinities[]
- Benthesikyme is a Goddess of Waves and the wife of King Enalos of Ethiopia. She gave birth to two daughters with King Enalos and served as foster mother to her half-brother Eumolpos.
- Despoine, the Goddess of Arkadian Mysteries, is the daughter of Poseidon by Demeter.
- Kymopoleia is the Goddess of Violent Storm Waves and the wife of Briareos, one of the Hekatoncheires. Together, they have one daughter: Oiolyka, the Goddess of Breaking Waves.
- Proteus, the God of Changing Seas, is the son of Poseidon by the Phoenician princess Phoenike.
- Rhode is the Goddess of the Aegean Islands. She became the wife of the Sun God Helios and bore him seven sons.
- Triton, the merman God of the Depth of the Sea. He armed himself with a conch shell, the blowing of which brings the waves to heel. He later married the Okeanide Libya, by whom he fathered several nymphs.
Epithets[]
For more information, visit Epithets.
Epithets are assigned to the Gods, with some originating from the merging of formerly independent deities, others drawn from the names of revered sanctuaries, and still more connected to specific spheres of influence like warfare or fertility. In essence, these epithets can be viewed as descriptors that highlight various facets of a god's identity.
| Latinization | Greek | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aigaiôn | Αιγαιων | Poseidon of the Aegean Sea |
| Asphalius | Ασφαλιος | Poseidon, Securer of Safe Voyages |
| Basileus | Βασιλευς | King (Chief, Lord or Ruler) Poseidon |
| Domatites | Δωματιτης | Poseidon of the House |
| Ennosigaeus | Εννοσιγαιος | Shaker of the Earth |
| Epoptes | Εποπτης | Poseidon the Overseer (or Watcher) |
| Gaeochus | Γαιηοχος | Holder of the Earth |
| Genethlius | Γενεθλιος | Poseidon of the Kin (or Kindred) |
| Hippios | Ἱππιος | Poseidon of the Horses |
| Hippokourios | Ἱπποκουριος | Poseidon the Horse Tender |
| Isthmius | Ισθμιος | Poseidon of the Isthmus (in Corinth) |
| Laoites | Λαοιτης | Poseidon of the People |
| Patrus | Πατρος | Poseidon the Father (or Ancestral) |
| Pelagaios | Πελαγαιος | Poseidon of the Sea or Marine Poseidon |
| Phytalmius | Φυταλμιος | Poseidon the Plant Nurturer |
| Prosclystius | Προσκλυστιος | Poseidon Who Dashes Against |