Poseidon Myths

As per Greek mythology, Poseidon is one of the six original Olympians who happens to be the God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. He is referred to as the earth-shaker and the earth-encircler in the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer, because he took great delight in pounding and shaking the earth and sea with all his power and wrath.

He had authority over the seas and rode the waves of the sea in a chariot pulled by dolphins. Although he enjoyed his sole authority over the seas, he was answerable to Zeus, his brother who ruled the Heavens.

This Greek God lived in a palace built of corals and gems on the ocean floor. He is the son of Kronos (Cronos) and Rheia, and the brother of Zeus, Demeter, Hades, Hestia, and Hera.

The myth with respect to Poseidon's birth and future is quite intriguing. The story goes like this: Cronos (Poseidon's father), a Titan had usurped his father's throne and enjoyed the position he had. However, a prophecy was made that one of his son's would dethrone him, the same way he had dethroned his father.

This spearheaded uncontrollable fear and insecurity in the mind of Cronos. He found only one solution to his problem, which was to never let his child live. Each time his wife, Rhea presented their child to him, he would swallow the child up. Thus, as soon as Poseidon was born he was swallowed by his father.

The myth continues to tell us that when Rhea gave birth to Zeus, she did not present him to Cronos, instead presented a stone in its place. Zeus was then spirited away to an island called Crete, where he grew and matured. One day Zeus decided to poison his father. He asked his mother Rhea, to trick Cronos into drinking the poison.

On drinking that poison, Cronos vomited out all the children he had ever swallowed. The children were alive and because of Zeus they could overcome their father's tyranny. The myth continues to say that the earth split into three realms with Zeus having authority over the heavens, Poseidon over the seas, and Hades over the underworld.

Besides the new authority, these three also received specials gifts. For example, Zeus got the thunderbolt, Hades got the helmet, and Poseidon received the trident (three pronged fish spears) from the Cyclopes. Poseidon used the trident to subdue or call storms, to shatter rocks, to shake the earth, etc.

Although Poseidon was the ruler of the seas, he was accountable to his mightier brother Zeus. Now, Poseidon did not like Zeus, whom he was answerable to. He despised the way Zeus used haughty words to intimidate him. Once he even conspired with Hera and Athena to bind him in chains. Poseidon is also known to have butted heads with Athena, Hera, Thetis, etc.

Poseidon wished to marry Oceanid Amphitrite, a nymph who did not want to get married at all. She fled to Atlas and hid herself. Poseidon sent his search party of sea creatures to look for her, of which the dolphin found her and convinced her to get married to Poseidon.

Besides the nymph, Poseidon had several affairs. He had an affair with Alope, Amymone, then out of lust raped Caeneus, and also had sexual intercourse with Medusa, a gorgon on the floor of a temple to Athena. Thus, Poseidon was the father of many children, many of them were not humans and grew to become great heroes.

There are different versions of Poseidon's life, of which this was just one of them. As you read and research more, you will find the myths are quite far spread. Nevertheless, hope this version intrigued you!