Greek Mythology 101: Who is Poseidon?
The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology have always been a particular fascination to the modern world at large. Here, we delve deeper into each of those gods and goddesses to help you gain a better understanding of them. Welcome to Greek Mythology 101! Today’s topic: the earth shaker, Poseidon.
General Info
Poseidon is one of the original six gods born to the Titans Kronos and Rhea. In the division of power at the start of the Olympians’ reign, Poseidon received the seas, while his brothers Zeus and Hades received the skies and the Underworld respectively. He, therefore, is the lord of the seas and all those who reside in any type of water, whether rivers, lakes, or oceans, answer to him.
Symbols & Sacred Animals
Poseidon's most well-known symbol is his trident and he is never depicted without it. The trident is a conduit for Poseidon’s power; he uses it to create wells and springs to show his favor, command waves and make storms, and even dry out land so that mortals have no water when he feels disrespected.
It may come as a surprise to learn that one of Poseidon’s sacred animals is not actually a water-dwelling creature. In fact, it’s a horse.
You see, Poseidon actually created the first horse, though the specifics vary depending on who is telling the story. Some say that Poseidon struck a rock with his trident to create the first horse, while others say that he fashioned one out of sea foam. Either way, Poseidon then became known as the tamer of horses and horses, subsequently, became his sacred animal.
In addition, if Poseidon is ever depicted in a chariot, it is typically hippocampi (horses with large fish tails in place of their back legs) that are pulling it, thus combining Poseidon’s sacred land animal with his sacred animals of the sea.
Relationships
Poseidon is married to Amphitrite, a Nereid (sea-nymph), but like most gods, marriage vows don’t mean a whole lot to him. He has had countless affairs with goddesses, nymphs, and mortals alike, and he has fathered countless children as a result.
Poseidon’s offspring range from demigods, like the famous Theseus, to giants, like the Cyclops Polyphemus, to animals, like the horse Arion. Poseidon and Amphritrite also have their own son, Triton, who is a merman, and if that name sounds familiar to you, yes, he was most definitely the inspiration for a very specific little mermaid’s father.
Final Thoughts
Like the ocean, calm one moment and raging the next, Poseidon’s moods change on a whim. From granting cities boons, like fresh wells and springs, to turning on a dime and causing earthquakes, you can never quite know what to expect from this sea god.
Here at Mythic Tees, we celebrate all sides of each of the Olympians. If you love Poseidon and want to represent him in all his glory, we have a wide range of shirts available to do just that. You can find our entire Poseidon collection here!