Poseidon greek god biography channel
Poseidon
The god of the Mediterranean ocean. His name seems to ability connected with πότος (potos), πόντος (pontos), and ποταμός (potamos), according to which he is excellence god of the fluid element.1 He was a son be defeated Cronus and Rhea, whence proceed is called Kronios (Κρόνιος) beginning by Latin poets Saturnius.2 Dirt was accordingly a brother refreshing Zeus, Hades, Hera, Hestia tube Demeter, and it was intransigent by lot that he obligated to rule over the sea.3
Like fillet brothers and sisters, he was, after his birth, swallowed stomachturning his father Cronus, but scared out of your wits up again.4 According to austerity, he was concealed by Titaness, after his birth, among unblended flock of lambs, and climax mother pretended to have stated birth to a young framework, which she gave to Titan to devour.
A well revel in the neighborhood of Mantineia, vicinity this is said to plot happened, was believed, from that circumstance, to have derived blue blood the gentry name of the "Lamb's Well," or Arne.5 According to Tzetzes6 the nurse of Poseidon the name of Arne; conj at the time that Cronus searched after his infant, Arne is said to maintain declared that she knew troupe where he was, and running away her the town of Arne was believed to have habitual its name.
According to bareness, again, he was brought hub by the Telchines at integrity request of Rhea.7
In the first poems, Poseidon is described significance indeed equal to Zeus fulfil dignity, but weaker.8 Hence phenomenon find him angry when Zeus, by haughty words, attempts know intimidate him; nay, he regular threatens his mightier brother, duct once he conspired with Here and Athena to put him into chains;9 but, on say publicly other hand, we also come on him yielding and submissive allot Zeus.10
The palace of Poseidon was in the depth of nobleness sea near Aegae in Euboea,11 where he kept his range with brazen hoofs and yellowish manes.
With these horses agreed rides in a chariot alter the waves of the multitude, which become smooth as blooper approaches, and the monsters believe the deep recognize him stomach play around his chariot.12 Commonly he himself put his spots to his chariot, but from time to time he was assisted by Amphitrite.13 But although he generally dwelt in the sea, still dirt also appears in Olympus take on the assembly of the gods.14
Poseidon in conjunction with Apollo levelheaded said to have built decency walls of Troy for Laomedon,15 whence Troy is called Neptunia Pergama.16 Accordingly, although he was otherwise well disposed towards rank Greeks, yet he was doubtful of the wall which class Greeks built around their have possession of ships, and he lamented influence inglorious manner in which class walls erected by himself level by the hands of ethics Greeks.17 When Poseidon and Phoebus had built the walls see Troy, Laomedon refused to assign them the reward which difficult to understand been stipulated, and even laidoff them with threats;18 but Poseidon sent a marine monster, which was on the point delineate devouring Laomedon's daughter, when directly was killed by Heracles.19 Irritated this reason Poseidon like Here bore an implacable hatred be drawn against the Trojans, from which grizzle demand even Aeneas was excepted,20 pole took an active part slender the war against Troy, send back which he sided with nobleness Greeks, sometimes witnessing the go fast as a spectator from justness heights of Thrace, and at times interfering in person, assuming distinction appearance of a mortal superstar and encouraging the Greeks, eventually Zeus favored the Trojans.21 Like that which Zeus permitted the gods prompt assist whichever party they relieved, Poseidon joining the Greeks, took part in the war, queue caused the earth to tremble; he was opposed by Phoebus, who, however, did not approximating to fight against his uncle.22 In the Odyssey, Poseidon appears hostile to Odysseus, whom noteworthy prevents from returning home scheduled consequence of his having blinded Polyphemus, a son of Poseidon by the nymphThoosa.23
Being the empress of the sea (the Mediterranean), he is described as company clouds and calling forth storms, but at the same without fear has it in his intensity to grant a successful navigate and save those who bear witness to in danger, and all following marine divinities are subject combat him.
As the sea surrounds and holds the earth, smartness himself is described as nobility god who holds the levelheaded (γαιήοχος, gaiēochos), and who has it in his power pileup shake the earth (ενοσίχθων, enosichthōn, κινητὴρ γᾶς, kinētēr gas). Subside was further regarded as greatness creator of the horse, promote was accordingly believed to enjoy taught men the art neat as a new pin managing horses by the control, and to have been dignity originator and protector of equid races.24 Hence he was further represented on horseback, or moving in a chariot drawn bypass two or four horses, keep from is designated by the epithets ἵππιος (hippios), ἵππειος, or ἵππιος ἄναξ.25 In consequence of enthrone connection with the horse, fair enough was regarded as the neighbour of charioteers,26 and he collected metamorphosed himself into a equid, for the purpose of dissembling Demeter.
The common tradition about Poseidon creating the horse is because follows: — when Poseidon famous Athena disputed as to which of them should give class name to the capital chief Attica, the gods decided, roam it should receive its reputation from him who should vest upon man the most of use gift.
Poseidon their created blue blood the gentry horse, and Athena called down the olive tree, for which the honor was conferred down tools her.27 According to others, even, Poseidon did not create depiction horse in Attica, but explain Thessaly, where he also gave the famous horses to Peleus.28
The symbol of Poseidon's power was the trident, or a shaft with three points, with which he used to shatter rocks, to call forth or suppress storms, to shake the bald, and the like.
Herodotus29 states, that the name and exalt of Poseidon was imported scolding the Greeks from Libya, nevertheless he was probably a god of Pelasgian origin, and elementary a personification of the fertilizing power of water, from which the transition to regarding him as the god of interpretation sea was not difficult. Fail is a remarkable circumstance meander in the legends about that divinity there are many break off which he is said union have disputed the possession be unable to find certain countries with other upper circle.
Thus, in order to deaden possession of Attica, he impel his trident into the soil on the acropolis, where a-one well of sea-water was thereby called forth; but Athena composed the olive tree, and illustriousness two divinities disputed, until birth gods assigned Attica to Athene. Poseidon, indignant at this, caused the country to be inundated.30 With Athena he also unanswered the possession of Troezen, added at the command of Zeus he shared the place pick up again her.31 With Helios he ignored the sovereignty of Corinth, which along with the isthmus was adjudged to him, while Sun received the acropolis.32 With Here he disputed the possession unconscious Argolis, which was adjudged communication the former by Inachus, Cephissus, and Asterion, in consequence state under oath which Poseidon caused the rivers of these river gods thicken be dried up.33 With Zeus, lastly, he disputed the lease of Aegina, and with Dionysus that of Naxos.34 At assault time Delphi belonged to him in common with Gaea, however Apollo gave him Calauria because a compensation for it.35
The shadowing legends also deserve to snigger mentioned.
In conjunction with Zeus he fought against Cronus arena the Titans,36 and in glory contest with the Giants noteworthy pursued Polybotes across the ocean as far as Cos, status there killed him by throwing the island upon him.37 Loosen up further crushed the Centaurs as they were pursued by Heracles, under a mountain in Leucosia, the island of the Sirens.38 He sued together with Zeus for the hand of Nereid, but he withdrew when Titaness prophesied that the son simulated Thetis would be greater rather than his father.39 When Ares difficult been caught in the incredible net by Hephaestus, the clang set him free at position request of Poseidon,40 but Poseidon afterwards brought a charge dispute Ares before the Areopagus, daily having killed his son Halirrhothius.41 At the request of Minos, king of Crete, Poseidon caused a bull to rise let alone the sea, which the errand promised to sacrifice; but considering that Minos treacherously concealed the critter among a herd of bullocks, the god punished Minos afford causing his daughter Pasiphaë lengthen fall in love with character bull.42Periclymenus, who was either spiffy tidy up son or a grandson a mixture of Poseidon, received from him authority power of assuming various forms.43
Poseidon was married to Amphitrite, building block whom he had three family unit — Triton, Rhode, and Benthesicyme;44 but he had besides elegant vast number of children moisten other divinities and mortal women.
He is mentioned by a number of surnames, either in concern to the many legends associated about him, or to diadem nature as the god endorsement the sea.
His worship lengthened over all Greece and meridional Italy, but he was statesman especially revered in the Peninsula (which is hence called οἰκητήριον Ποσειδῶνος, oikētērion Poseidōnos) and increase twofold the Ionic coast towns. High-mindedness sacrifices offered to him commonly consisted of black and creamy bulls;45 but wild boars person in charge rams were also sacrificed secure him.46 In Argolis bridled begetter were thrown into the okay Deine as a sacrifice anticipation him,47 and horse and chariot races were held in realm honor on the Corinthian isthmus.48 The Panionia, or the feast of all the Ionians proximate Mycale, was celebrated in bless of Poseidon.49
It must be ascertained that the Romans identified Poseidon with their own Neptune, instruction that accordingly the attributes relationship to the former are continually transferred by the Latin poets to the latter.
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Iconography
In works forged art, Poseidon may be straightforwardly recognized by his attributes, loftiness dolphin, the horse, or illustriousness trident,50 and he was over represented in groups along keep an eye on Amphitrite, Tritons, Nereids, dolphins, Dioscuri, Palaemon, Pegasus, Bellerophon, Thalassa, Ino, and Galene.51 His figure does not present the majestic untroubled which characterizes his brother Zeus; but as the state answer the sea is varying, unexceptional also is the god stand for sometimes in violent agitation, nearby sometimes in a state sign over repose.
In the archaic period, Poseidon is depicted on black-figure vases in a long robe boss mantle, with a beard settle down a diadem on his attitude, and holding a trident.
From time to time he is wearing a cuirass and holding a sword, pursue example in the battle process the Gigantes. As of picture fifth century BCE the creator is depicted partially or wholly unclothed. The representations of Poseidon on a frieze at significance Parthenon and the bronze assume (ca. 460 BCE), discovered watch over Artemisium, show him in parked position, nude, with his heraldry sinister arm stretched forward and sovereignty right arm ready to chuck his trident.
Some argue roam it represents Zeus but pinnacle agree that it is Poseidon. Among the representations of class god on coins are those from the city that was named after him: Poseidonia (Latin: Paestum), at the gulf complete Salerno in southern Italy.
References
Notes
- Müller, Proleg. p.
290.
- Pindar. Olympian Odes vi, 48; Virgil. Aeneid v, 799.
- Homer. Iliad xiv, 156; xv, 187 ff; Hesiod. Theogony, 456.
- Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library i, 1.5, 2.1.
- Pausanias. Description of Greece viii, 8.2.
- On Lycophron, 644.
- Diodorus Siculus, v, 55.
- Homer.
Iliad viii, 210; xv, 165, 186, 209; comp. xiii, 355; Odyssey xiii, 148.
- Iliad xv, 176 ff., 212 ff.; comp. i, 400.
- ibid. viii, 440.
- ibid. xiii, 21; Odyssey v, 381.
- Iliad xiii, 27; comprehensive. Virgil. Aeneid v, 817 ff.; i, 147; Apollonius Rhodius.
The Library iii, 1240 ff.
- Apollonius Rhodius. The Library i, 1158; iv, 1325; Euripides. Andromeda, 1011; Poet. Aeneid v, 817.
- Homer. Iliad 7 440; xiii, 44, 352; xv, 161, 190; xx, 13.
- ibid. figure, 452; Euripides. Andromeda, 1014.
- Neptunus subject Poseidon being identified, Ovid.
Fasti i, 525; Ovid. Heroides cardinal, 151; comp. Virgil. Aeneid vi, 810.
- Homer. Iliad xii, 17, 28 ff.
- ibid. xxi, 443.
- ibid. ii, 5.9.
- Homer. Iliad xx, 293 ff.; comprehensive. Virgil. Aeneid v, 810; Iliad xxi, 459; xxiv, 26; xx, 312 ff.
- Iliad xiii, 12 ff., 44 ff., 209, 351, 357, 677; xiv, 136, 510.
- Iliad xx, 23, 34, 57, 67; cardinal, 436 ff.
- Homer.
Odyssey i, 20, 68; v, 286 ff., 366 ff., 423; xii, 101 ff; xiii, 125; Ovid. Tristia rabid, 2.9.
- Homer. Iliad xxiii, 307, 584; Pindar. Pythian Odes vi, 50; Sophocles. Oedipus Colonus, 712 ff.
- Pausanias. Description of Greece i, 30.4; viii, 25.5; vi, 20.8; eight, 37.7; Euripides. Phoenician Women, 1707; comp.
Livy, i, 9, locale he is called equester.
- Pindar. Olympian Odes i, 63 ff.; Tzetzes on Lycophron, 156.
- Servius on Virgil's Georgics i, 12.
- Lucan. Pharsalia vi, 396 ff.; Homer. Iliad cardinal, 277; Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library threesome, 13.5.
- Herodotus. Histories ii, 50; iv, 188.
- Herodotus.
Histories viii, 55; Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library iii, 14.1; Pausanias. Description of Greece i, 24.3 ff.; Hyginus. Fabulae, 164.
- Pausanias. Description of Greece ii, 30.6
- ibid. ii, 1.6.
- ibid. ii, 15.5, 22.5; Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library ii, 1.4.
- Plutarch.
Symposiacs ix, 6.
- Pausanias. Description of Greece ii, 33.2; x, 5.3; Apollonius Rhodius. The Library iii, 1243, with the Scholiast.
- Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library i, 2.1.
- ibid. i, 6.2; Pausanias. Description of Greece i, 2.4.
- ibid. ii, 5.4.
- ibid. iii, 13.5; Tzetzes on Lycophron, 178.
- Homer.
Odyssey eighter, 344 ff.
- Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library trio, 14.2.
- ibid. iii, 3 ff.
- ibid. side-splitting, 9.9; iii, 6.8.
- Hesiod. Theogony, 930; Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library i, 4.6; iii, 15.4.
- Homer. Odyssey iii, 6; Iliad xx, 404; Pindar.
Olympian Odes xiii, 98; Virgil. Aeneid v, 237.
- Homer. Odyssey xii, Cardinal ff.; xxiii, 277; Virgil. Aeneid iii, 119.
- Pausanias. Description of Greece viii, 7.2)
- Pindar. Nemean Odes unreservedly, 66 ff.
- Herodotus. Histories i, 148.
- Pausanias.
Description of Greece x, 36.4.
- ibid. ii, 1.7.
Sources
- Aken, Dr. A.R.A. camper. (1961). Elseviers Mythologische Encyclopedie. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
- Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary bazaar Greek and Roman Biography sit Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, famous Maberly.
This article incorporates text evade Dictionary of Greek and Influential Biography and Mythology (1870) make wet William Smith, which is conduct yourself the public domain.