Poseidon - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Other stories */

2006-11-03T16:31:05Z

Irlandos: /* Consorts/children */

2006-11-03T16:29:53Z

Consorts/children

Irlandos: /* Lovers */

2005-12-29T15:39:03Z

Lovers

Irlandos: /* Prehistory */

2005-12-29T15:37:28Z

Prehistory

Irlandos: /* Other stories */

2005-09-29T11:06:51Z

Irlandos: /* Role in society */

2005-09-29T11:06:18Z

Role in society

Irlandos at 11:04, September 29, 2005

2005-09-29T11:04:54Z

Irlandos at 11:02, September 29, 2005

2005-09-29T11:02:10Z

New page

In [[Greek Mythology]], '''Poseidon''' Ποσειδών;) was the [[god]] of the [[sea]], known to the Romans as '''Neptune''', and to the Etruscans as Nethuns.
He was also the god of earthquakes and horses.

==Prehistory==
In the heavily sea-dependent [[Mycenean]] culture, Poseidon's importance dwarfed that of [[Zeus]], if the extant [[Linear B]] tablets can be trusted. The name PO-SE-DA-WO-NE (Poseidon) occurs with greater frequency than does DI-U-JA (Zeus). A feminine variant, PO-SE-DE-IA, is also found, indicating the existence of a now-forgotten goddess to match the god. Tablets from Pylos record sacrificial goods destined for "the Two Queens and Poseidon" and to "the Two Queens and the King", compounding the mystery further. The most obvious identification for the "Two Queens" is with [[Demeter]] and [[Persephone]] (or some predecessors thereof), who are not associated with Poseidon in historical times.

Demeter and Poseidon's names are linked in one Pylos tablet, where they appear as PO-SE-DA-WO-NE and DA-MA-TE, in the context of sacralized lot-casting. The 'DA' element in each of their names is seemingly connected to an [[Indo-European]] root relating to distribution of land and honors (compare Latin ''dare'' "to give") - thus 'Poseidon' would mean something like "distribution-lord" or "husband of the distributor", to match 'Damater' "distribution-mother".

{{Greek myth (aquatic olympian)}}
Given Poseidon's connection with horses as well as the sea, and the landlocked situation of the likely Indo-European homeland, some scholars have proposed that Poseidon was originally an aristocratic horse-god who was then assimilated to Near Eastern aquatic deities when the basis of the Greek livelihood shifted from the land to the sea.

In any case, the early all-importance of Poseidon can still be glimpsed in [[Homer]]'s [[Odyssey]], where Poseidon rather than [[Zeus]] is the major mover of events.

==Worship==
In the historical period, Poseidon was often referred to by the epithets '''Enosichthon''', '''Seischthon''' and '''Ennosigaios''', all meaning "earth-shaker" and referring to his role in causing earthquakes.

Poseidon was a major civic god of several cities: in [[Athens]], he was second only to [[Athena]] in importance; while in [[Corinth]] and many cities of [[Magna Graecia]] he was the chief god of the [[polis]].

According to [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], Poseidon was one of the caretakers of the [[Oracle]] at [[Delphi]] before Olympian [[Apollo]] took it over. Apollo and Poseidon worked closely in many realms: in colonization, for example, Apollo provided the authorization to go out and settle from [[Delphi]], while Poseidon watched over the colonists on their way, and provided the lustral water for the foundation-sacrifice. [[Xenophon]]'s ''Anabasis'' describes a groups of [[Sparta|Spartan]] soldiers singing Poseidon a [[paean]] - a kind of hymn normally sung for Apollo.

Like [[Dionysus]] and the [[Maenads]], Poseidon also caused certain forms of mental disturbance. One [[Hippocrates|Hippocratic]] text says that he was blamed for certain types of epilepsy.

Sailors prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice.

=== Role in society ===
When in a good mood, Poseidon created new [[island]]s and calm [[sea]]s.
When in a bad mood, he struck the ground with his [[trident]] and caused [[chaos|chaotic]] springs, [[earthquake]]s, drownings and [[ship]]wrecks.

=== In [[Art]] ===
Poseidon's chariot was pulled by a hippocampus or seahorses.
He was associated with dolphins, tridents and three-pronged fish spears (tridents).

He lived in a palace on the ocean floor, made of coral and gems.

==Myth==
===Birth and Childhood===
Poseidon was a son of [[Cronus]] and [[Rhea]].
Like his brothers and sisters save [[Zeus]], Poseidon was swallowed by his father.
He was regurgitated only after Zeus forced Cronus to vomit up the infants he had eaten.
Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the [[Hecatonchires]], [[Gigantes]] and [[Cyclopes]] [[Titanomachy|overthrew]] Cronus and the other [[Titan (mythology)|Titans]]. According to other variants, Poseidon was raised by the [[Telchines]] on [[Rhodes]], just as [[Zeus]] was raised by the [[Korybantes]] on [[Crete]].

When the world was divided in three, [[Zeus]] received the earth and sky, [[Hades]] the [[underworld]] and Poseidon the sea.

=== Lovers ===

[[Image:Neptune amphitrite mosaic.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mosaic from [[Herculaneum]] depicting [[Neptune (god)|Neptune]] and Amphitrite]]
His wife was [[Amphitrite]], daughter of [[Nereus]] and [[Doris]].

Poseidon fell in love with [[Pelops]], a beautiful youth, son of [[Tantalus]]. He took Pelops up to Olympus and made him his lover, even before Zeus did the same with Ganymede. To thank Pelops for his love, Poseidon later gave him a winged chariot, to use in the race against [[Oenomaus]] for the hand of Hippodamia.

Poseidon once pursued [[Demeter]]. She spurned his advances, turning herself into a [[mare]] so that she could hide in a flock of horses; he saw through the deception and became a stallion and captured her. Their child was a horse, [[Arion]], which was capable of human speech.

Poseidon had an affair with [[Alope]], his granddaughter through [[Cercyon]], begetting [[Hippothoon]].
Cercyon had his daughter buried alive but Poseidon turned her into the spring, Alope, near [[Eleusis]].

Poseidon rescued [[Amymone]] from a lecherous [[satyr]] and then fathered a child, [[Nauplius]], by her.

A mortal woman named [[Tyro]] was married to [[Cretheus]] (with whom she had one son, [[Aeson]]) but loved [[Enipeus]], a [[river]] [[god]].
She pursued Enipeus, who refused her advances.
One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus and from their union was born [[Pelias]] and [[Neleus]], twin boys.

With [[Medusa (mythology)|Medusa]], Poseidon had sexual intercourse on the floor of a temple to [[Athena]].
Medusa was changed into a [[monster]]. When she was later beheaded by the hero [[Perseus]], [[Chrysaor]] and [[Pegasus]] emerged from her neck.

After raping [[Caeneus]], Poseidon fulfilled her request and changed her into a man.

=== Other stories ===
[[Athena]] became the patron goddess of the city of [[Athens, Greece|Athens]], in a competition with Poseidon.
They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his [[trident]] and a spring sprung up; the water was salty and not very useful, whereas Athena offered them an olive tree.
The Athenians (or their king, [[Cecrops]]) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food.
This is thought to remember a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants.
It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the [[Iran|Persian]] fleet at [[Salamis Island]] in a sea battle. Another version of the myth says that Poseidon gave horses to Athens.

Poseidon and [[Apollo]], having offended [[Zeus]], were sent to serve King [[Laomedon]].
He had them build huge walls around the city and promised to reward them well, a promise he then refused to fulfill.
In vengeance, before the [[Trojan War]], Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy (it was later killed by [[Heracles]]).

In the ''[[Iliad]]'' Poseidon favors the Greeks, and on several occasion takes an active part in the battle against the Trojan forces. However, in Book XX he rescues [[Aeneas]] after the Trojan prince is laid low by [[Achilles]].

In the ''[[Odyssey]]'', Poseidon is notable for his hatred of [[Odysseus]] due to the latter's having blinded the god's son [[Polyphemus]]. The enmity of Poseidon prevents Odysseus's return home to [[Ithaca]] for many years. Odysseus is even told, notwithstanding his ultimate safe return, that to placate the wrath of Poseidon will require one more voyage on his part.

In the ''Aeneid'', Neptune is still resentful of the wandering Trojans, but is not as vindictive as [[Juno]], and in Book I he rescues the Trojan fleet from the goddess's attempts to wreck it, although his primary motivation for doing this is his annoyance at Juno's having intruded into his domain.

===Consorts/children===
# With [[Aethra]]
## [[Theseus]]
# With [[Alope]]
## [[Hippothoon]]
# With [[Amphitrite]]
## [[Rhode]]
## [[Triton (god)|Triton]]
# With [[Amymone]]
## [[Nauplius]]
# With [[Astypalaea]]
## [[Ancaeus]]
## [[Eurypylos]]
# With [[Canace]]
## [[Aloeus]]
# With [[Celaeno]]
## [[Lycus]]
# With [[Chione]]
## [[Eumolpus]]
# With [[Chloris]]
## [[Poriclymenus]]
# With [[Demeter]]
## [[Arion]]
## [[Despina (mythology)|Despina]]
# With [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]]
## [[Euphemus]]
# With [[Euryale]]
##[[Orion (mythology)|Orion]]
# With [[Eurynome]]
## [[Adrastus]]
# With [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]]
## [[Antaeus]]
## [[Charybdis]]
# With [[Halia]]
## [[Rhode]]
# With [[Hiona]]
## [[Hios]]
# With [[Hippothoe]]
## [[Taphius]]
# With [[Libya (mythology)|Libya]]
## [[Belus (Egyptian)|Belus]]
## [[Agenor and Phoenix|Agenor]]
## [[Lelex]]
# With [[Lybie]]
## [[Lamia (mythology)|Lamia]]
# With [[Melia]]
## [[Amycus]]
# With [[Medusa (mythology)|Medusa]]
## [[Pegasus]]
## [[Chrysaor]]
# With [[Periboea]]
## [[Nausithous]]
# With [[Thoosa]]
## [[Polyphemus]]
# With [[Tyro]]
## [[Neleus]]
## [[Pelias]]
# Unknown mother
## [[Aon]]
## [[Briareus]]
## [[Byzas]]
## [[Cercyon]]
## [[Cycnus]]
## [[Evadne]]
## [[Lotis]]
## [[Rhodus]]
## [[Sinis]]
## [[Taras]]

== Spoken-word myths - audio files ==

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|-
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Poseidon myths as told by story tellers
|-
|[[Media:Zeus and Tantalus, with Poseidon and Pelops - wiki.ogg|'''1. Poseidon and Pelops, part I,''' (integral to Tantalus myth), read by Timothy Carter]]
|-
|Bibliography of reconstruction: [[Homer]], ''Odyssey,'' 11.567 (7th c. BC); [[Pindar]], ''Olympian Odes,'' 1 (476 BC); [[Euripides]], ''Orestes,'' 12-16 (408 BC); [[Apollodorus]], ''Epitomes'' 2: 1-9 (140 BC); [[Ovid]], ''Metamorphoses,'' VI: 213, 458 (AD 8); [[Hyginus]], ''Fables,'' 82: Tantalus; 83: Pelops (1st c. AD); [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece,'' 2.22.3 (AD 160 - 176)
|-
|[[Media:Pelops and Hippodameia - wiki.ogg|'''2. Poseidon and Pelops, part II''' (Integral to the myth of Pelops and Hippodameia), read by Timothy Carter]]
|-
|Bibliography of reconstruction: [[Pindar]], ''Olympian Ode,'' I (476 BC); [[Sophocles]], (1) ''Electra,'' 504 (430 - 415 BC) & (2) ''Oenomaus,'' Fr. 433 (408 BC); [[Euripides]], ''Orestes,'' 1024-1062 (408 BC); [[Apollodorus]], ''Epitomes'' 2, 1-9 (140 BC); [[Diodorus Siculus]], ''Histories,'' 4.73 (1st c. BC); [[Hyginus]], ''Fables,'' 84: Oinomaus; ''Poetic Astronomy,'' ii (1st c. AD); [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], ''Description of Greece,'' 5.1.3 - 7; 5.13.1; 6.21.9; 8.14.10 - 11 (c. AD 160 - 176); [[Philostratus the Elder]] ''Imagines,'' I.30: Pelops (AD 170 - 245); [[Philostratus the Younger]], ''Imagines,'' 9: Pelops (c. AD 200 - 245); [[First Vatican Mythographer]], 22: Myrtilus; Atreus et Thyestes; [[Second Vatican Mythographer]], 146: Oenomaus
|-
|}

==External links==

*[http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/ Greek Mythology resource]
*[http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Mythology/Greek/ The story of Poseidon and Pelops]

[[Category:Greek gods]]

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus and from their union was born [[Pelias]] and [[Neleus]], twin boys.
-With [[Medusa (mythology)|Medusa]], Poseidon had sexual intercourse on the floor of a temple to [[Athena]].
+With [[Medusa]], Poseidon had sexual intercourse on the floor of a temple to [[Athena]].
 Medusa was changed into a monster. When she was later beheaded by the hero [[Perseus]], [[Chrysaor]] and [[Pegasus]] emerged from her neck.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:37, December 29, 2005
Line 7:		Line 7:
	Demeter and Poseidon's names are linked in one Pylos tablet, where they appear as PO-SE-DA-WO-NE and DA-MA-TE, in the context of sacralized lot-casting. The 'DA' element in each of their names is seemingly connected to an Indo-European root relating to distribution of land and honors (compare Latin ''dare'' "to give") - thus 'Poseidon' would mean something like "distribution-lord" or "husband of the distributor", to match 'Damater' "distribution-mother".		Demeter and Poseidon's names are linked in one Pylos tablet, where they appear as PO-SE-DA-WO-NE and DA-MA-TE, in the context of sacralized lot-casting. The 'DA' element in each of their names is seemingly connected to an Indo-European root relating to distribution of land and honors (compare Latin ''dare'' "to give") - thus 'Poseidon' would mean something like "distribution-lord" or "husband of the distributor", to match 'Damater' "distribution-mother".

−	~~{{Greek myth (aquatic olympian)}}~~
	Given Poseidon's connection with horses as well as the sea, and the landlocked situation of the likely Indo-European homeland, some scholars have proposed that Poseidon was originally an aristocratic horse-god who was then assimilated to Near Eastern aquatic deities when the basis of the Greek livelihood shifted from the land to the sea.		Given Poseidon's connection with horses as well as the sea, and the landlocked situation of the likely Indo-European homeland, some scholars have proposed that Poseidon was originally an aristocratic horse-god who was then assimilated to Near Eastern aquatic deities when the basis of the Greek livelihood shifted from the land to the sea.

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 In the ''[[Odyssey]]'', Poseidon is notable for his hatred of [[Odysseus]] due to the latter's having blinded the god's son [[Polyphemus]]. The enmity of Poseidon prevents Odysseus's return home to [[Ithaca]] for many years. Odysseus is even told, notwithstanding his ultimate safe return, that to placate the wrath of Poseidon will require one more voyage on his part.
-In the ''Aeneid'', Neptune is still resentful of the wandering Trojans, but is not as vindictive as [[Juno]], and in Book I he rescues the Trojan fleet from the goddess's attempts to wreck it, although his primary motivation for doing this is his annoyance at Juno's having intruded into his domain.
+In the ''Aeneid'', Neptune is still resentful of the wandering Trojans, but is not as vindictive as [[Hera|Juno]], and in Book I he rescues the Trojan fleet from the goddess's attempts to wreck it, although his primary motivation for doing this is his annoyance at Juno's having intruded into his domain.
 ===Consorts/children===

@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 # With [[Amphitrite]]
 ## [[Rhode]]
-## [[Triton (god)|Triton]]
+## [[Triton]]
 # With [[Amymone]]
 ## [[Nauplius]]
@@ Line 106: / Line 106: @@
 ## [[Arion]]
 ## [[Despina (mythology)|Despina]]
-# With [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]]
+# With [[Europa]]
 ## [[Euphemus]]
 # With [[Euryale]]
-##[[Orion (mythology)|Orion]]
+##[[Orion]]
 # With [[Eurynome]]
 ## [[Adrastus]]
-# With [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]]
+# With [[Gaia]]
 ## [[Antaeus]]
 ## [[Charybdis]]
@@ Line 129: / Line 129: @@
 # With [[Melia]]
 ## [[Amycus]]
-# With [[Medusa (mythology)|Medusa]]
+# With [[Medusa]]
 ## [[Pegasus]]
 ## [[Chrysaor]]

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 === Other stories ===
-[[Athena]] became the patron goddess of the city of [[Athens, Greece|Athens]], in a competition with Poseidon.
+[[Athena]] became the patron goddess of the city of [[Athens]], in a competition with Poseidon.
 They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his [[trident]] and a spring sprung up; the water was salty and not very useful, whereas Athena offered them an olive tree.
 The Athenians (or their king, [[Cecrops]]) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 === Role in society ===
-When in a good mood, Poseidon created new [[island]]s and calm [[sea]]s.
+When in a good mood, Poseidon created new islands and calm seas.
-When in a bad mood, he struck the ground with his [[trident]] and caused [[chaos|chaotic]] springs, [[earthquake]]s, drownings and [[ship]]wrecks.
+When in a bad mood, he struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.
 === In [[Art]] ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-In [[Greek Mythology]], '''Poseidon''' Ποσειδών;) was the [[god]] of the [[sea]], known to the Romans as '''Neptune''', and to the Etruscans as Nethuns.
+In [[Greek Mythology]], '''Poseidon''' Ποσειδών;) was the god of the sea, known to the Romans as '''Neptune''', and to the Etruscans as Nethuns.
 He was also the god of earthquakes and horses.
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 In the heavily sea-dependent [[Mycenean]] culture, Poseidon's importance dwarfed that of [[Zeus]], if the extant [[Linear B]] tablets can be trusted.  The name PO-SE-DA-WO-NE (Poseidon) occurs with greater frequency than does DI-U-JA (Zeus).  A feminine variant, PO-SE-DE-IA, is also found, indicating the existence of a now-forgotten goddess to match the god.  Tablets from Pylos record sacrificial goods destined for "the Two Queens and Poseidon" and to "the Two Queens and the King", compounding the mystery further. The most obvious identification for the "Two Queens" is with [[Demeter]] and [[Persephone]] (or some predecessors thereof), who are not associated with Poseidon in historical times.
-Demeter and Poseidon's names are linked in one Pylos tablet, where they appear as PO-SE-DA-WO-NE and DA-MA-TE, in the context of sacralized lot-casting. The 'DA' element in each of their names is seemingly connected to an [[Indo-European]] root relating to distribution of land and honors (compare Latin ''dare'' "to give") - thus 'Poseidon' would mean something like "distribution-lord" or "husband of the distributor", to match 'Damater' "distribution-mother".
+Demeter and Poseidon's names are linked in one Pylos tablet, where they appear as PO-SE-DA-WO-NE and DA-MA-TE, in the context of sacralized lot-casting. The 'DA' element in each of their names is seemingly connected to an Indo-European root relating to distribution of land and honors (compare Latin ''dare'' "to give") - thus 'Poseidon' would mean something like "distribution-lord" or "husband of the distributor", to match 'Damater' "distribution-mother".
 {{Greek myth (aquatic olympian)}}
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 === Lovers ===
-[[Image:Neptune amphitrite mosaic.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mosaic from [[Herculaneum]] depicting [[Neptune (god)|Neptune]] and Amphitrite]]
 His wife was [[Amphitrite]], daughter of [[Nereus]] and [[Doris]].
 Poseidon fell in love with [[Pelops]], a beautiful youth, son of [[Tantalus]]. He took Pelops up to Olympus and made him his lover, even before Zeus did the same with Ganymede. To thank Pelops for his love, Poseidon later gave him a winged chariot, to use in the race against [[Oenomaus]] for the hand of Hippodamia.
-Poseidon once pursued [[Demeter]].  She spurned his advances, turning herself into a [[mare]] so that she could hide in a flock of horses; he saw through the deception and became a stallion and captured her. Their child was a horse, [[Arion]], which was capable of human speech.
+Poseidon once pursued [[Demeter]].  She spurned his advances, turning herself into a mare so that she could hide in a flock of horses; he saw through the deception and became a stallion and captured her. Their child was a horse, [[Arion]], which was capable of human speech.
 Poseidon had an affair with [[Alope]], his granddaughter through [[Cercyon]], begetting [[Hippothoon]].
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 Poseidon rescued [[Amymone]] from a lecherous [[satyr]] and then fathered a child, [[Nauplius]], by her.
-A mortal woman named [[Tyro]] was married to [[Cretheus]] (with whom she had one son, [[Aeson]]) but loved [[Enipeus]], a [[river]] [[god]].
+A mortal woman named [[Tyro]] was married to [[Cretheus]] (with whom she had one son, [[Aeson]]) but loved [[Enipeus]], a river god.
 She pursued Enipeus, who refused her advances.
 One day, Poseidon, filled with lust for Tyro, disguised himself as Enipeus and from their union was born [[Pelias]] and [[Neleus]], twin boys.
 With [[Medusa (mythology)|Medusa]], Poseidon had sexual intercourse on the floor of a temple to [[Athena]].
-Medusa was changed into a [[monster]]. When she was later beheaded by the hero [[Perseus]], [[Chrysaor]] and [[Pegasus]] emerged from her neck.
+Medusa was changed into a monster. When she was later beheaded by the hero [[Perseus]], [[Chrysaor]] and [[Pegasus]] emerged from her neck.
 After raping [[Caeneus]], Poseidon fulfilled her request and changed her into a man.
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 The Athenians (or their king, [[Cecrops]]) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food.
 This is thought to remember a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants.
-It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the [[Iran|Persian]] fleet at [[Salamis Island]] in a sea battle. Another version of the myth says that Poseidon gave horses to Athens.
+It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the Persian fleet at [[Salamis (Greece)]] in a sea battle. Another version of the myth says that Poseidon gave horses to Athens.
 Poseidon and [[Apollo]], having offended [[Zeus]], were sent to serve King [[Laomedon]].