Category:Poseidon



God of the sea, water, rivers, storms, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and horses. He was a son of Cronus and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus, Hades, Hera, Demeter and Hestia. Married to the Halia Amphitrite, his wedding is often presented as a triumphal procession. Although, like most male gods, Poseidon had many lovers.

He rules one of the three realms of the universe, primarily as king of the sea and the waters. As temperamental as the sea itself, he watches and controls his domain from deep beneath it's surface. Like his Ocean domain, Poseidon's moods can range from calm and placid to angry and turbulent. His weapon is the trident, which he uses to invoke violent storms at sea. Lesser known, Poseidon is also a deity of the earth. Earthquakes were sometimes attributed to Poseidon losing his temper, leading to him having titles such as "Earth Shaker."

In some versions of the story of Medusa, Poseidon violates Medusa, leading to her being transformed into a hideous Gorgon by Athena, and the birth of Poseidon and Medusa's two children: Pegasus and Chrysaor.

During the Trojan War, Poseidon favored the Greeks as a seafaring people. But when they grew arrogant in their victory and defiled Athena's temple, he unleashed a storm as they set sail for home, wreaking havoc on their fleet. Whether it be through gentle breezes or crashing waves, Poseidon, his trident in hand, still speaks to us today, a force as eternal as the tides. His symbols include the trident, dolphin, bull and horse. His Roman counterpart is Neptune.