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Poseidon and medusa6/18/2023 ![]() Dalliance with the Goddess of Loveĭemeter was not the only family member that Poseidon pursued, though his niece Aphrodite was far more willing, being a free spirit herself in matters of the heart. She later gave birth to two children by Poseidon, a daughter by the name of Despoina, goddess of mysteries, and a horse named Arion, with black mane and tail and the ability to speak. Without the goddess of the harvest, the earth suffered a devastating famine, until Demeter finally washed herself in the River Ladon and felt purified. However, Poseidon could easily see through the disguise, and he changed himself into a large stallion and forced himself on his sister.Įnraged, Demeter retreated to a cave and refused to return to earth. Uninterested, Demeter attempted to hide by transforming herself into a mare and hiding among the horses of King Onkios, a ruler in Arcadia with a large herd. The first object of his affection was none other than his older sister, Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and the harvest. Like most of the Greek gods, Poseidon possessed a wandering eye and a lustful appetite. The Love Life of Poseidon Poseidon and Demeter Two of them, Amphitrite and Thetis, became important players in mythology themselves, with Amphitrite in particular catching Poseidon’s eye. Nereus was also the father of the fifty nereids, sea nymphs who joined Poseidon’s retinue. Nereus was widely considered to be a gentle, wise god, usually depicted in ancient Greek art as a distinguished older gentleman, though half-fish, and he peacefully handed over the greater rule of the seas to Poseidon. Poseidon essentially supplanted the previous god of the sea, Nereus, who was the son of Gaia and Pontus, personifications of the earth and sea, with a particular fondness for the Aegean Sea. The three brothers drew lots, and Zeus became god of the sky, Hades god of the Underworld, and Poseidon the god of the sea. Now the rulers of the world, the six gods and goddesses had to choose their places of dominion. Eventually the young Olympians prevailed, and they threw the Titans that stood against them into the prison of Tartarus, which Poseidon outfitted with new, powerful bronze gates to hold them there. With his siblings rallied behind him, and the help of the sons of Mother Earth who Zeus freed from Tartarus, the war of the gods began. Metis then tricked Cronus into eating a herb that caused his regurgitation of the other original Olympians. Other traditions suggest that Zeus befriended or even married Metis, the daughter of one of the Titans and the goddess of prudence. In some versions of the story, he disguised himself as a cupbearer and snuck his father a poison that made him ill, forcing Cronus to vomit out his five children. Determined to overthrow his father, Zeus knew that he needed his powerful brothers and sisters. The baby boy was Zeus, and he was raised by nymphs until he came of age. However, when their mother, Rhea, gave birth again, she hid the youngest son and instead wrapped a stone in a blanket, presenting it to Cronus to eat. As a result, Cronus immediately swallowed his first five children, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. In Greek mythology, at the time of Poseidon’s birth, his father, the Titan Cronus, had learned of a prophecy stating that he would be overthrown by his own child. The Rise of the Olympians Birth of Poseidon: God of the Sea Although the sea gods of the two cultures originated separately, in fact Neptune was initially a god of freshwater, their similarities caused both cultures to adopt some of the mythology of the other. Poseidon is usually depicted as riding in a chariot pulled by horses or dolphins, and always wielding his signature trident. In works by Home, the Classical Greek poet who authored epic poems such as the Odyssey and Iliad, Poseidon is said to have a home near Aegae. Where does Poseidon live?Īlthough he spent much of his time with the other gods on Mount Olympus, the Greek god Poseidon also had his own magnificent palace on the ocean floor, made of coral and gemstones. The sea was his primary domain, and though he received worship from numerous inland cities as well, the most fervent prayers came from sailors and fishermen venturing out onto the unpredictable waters of the Mediterranean. In many traditions, Poseidon is the creator of the very first horse, which he is said to have designed as a reflection of the beauty of rolling waves and surf. Although best known for being the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon was also considered the god of earthquakes, and often referred to as the earth shaker.
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