8/5/2023 0 Comments Poseidon and amphitritePoseidon sent the bull, but Minos liked it too much to sacrifice it. Minos had proved his divine right to rule Crete by calling on Poseidon to send a bull from the sea, which the king promised to sacrifice. Poseidon similarly cursed the wife of King Minos. Because Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, who was Poseidon's son, the god not only delayed the hero's homeward return from the Trojan War but caused him to face enormous perils. Poseidon was not so well-disposed toward another famous hero. The hero dove beneath the waves and not only found the ring but was given a crown by Poseidon's wife, Amphitrite. This monarch threw his signet ring into the depths of the sea and dared Theseus to retrieve it. Thus he became king of Athens by virtue of being Aegeus's son, but availed himself of Poseidon's parentage in facing a challenge handed him by King Minos of Crete. Theseus was happy to have two fathers, enjoying the lineage of each when it suited him. Poseidon was father of the hero Theseus, although the mortal Aegeus also claimed this distinction. The people of Athens were careful, all the same, to honor Poseidon as well. Her paramount importance to the Athenians is seen in her magnificent temple, the Parthenon, which still crowns the Acropolis. Athena, however, planted an olive tree, which was seen as a more useful favor. The god demonstrated his power and benevolence by striking the Acropolis with his three-pronged spear, which caused a spring of salt water to emerge. Poseidon vied with Athena to be patron deity of Athens. This led to a number of territorial disputes among the gods. In dividing heaven, the watery realm and the subterranean land of the dead, the Olympians agreed that the earth itself would be ruled jointly, with Zeus as king. The Romans' name for Poseidon was Neptune. Poseidon had married Nereus's daughter, the sea-nymph Amphitrite. Similarly, Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea, wasn't really considered on a par with Poseidon, who was known to drive his chariot through the waves in unquestioned dominance. Zeus became ruler of the sky, Hades got dominion of the Underworld and Poseidon was given all water, both fresh and salt.Īlthough there were various rivers personified as gods, these would have been technically under Poseidon's sway. Although he was officially one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in his watery domain. Poseidon was the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses. Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Poseidon Search.
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