| Poseidon is one of the more famous of the deities of | | | | goddesses. He was also seen in this culture as the |
| ancient Greece. Here is an overview of who he was, | | | | "Earth Father" with Demeter being the "Earth Mother". |
| what he did and his position the Pantheon. | | | | Poseidon was also a major patron god of several |
| The Role of Poseidon In Ancient Greece | | | | large cities within Greece. In Athens, he was second in |
| The many gods and goddesses of the ancient Greek | | | | line only to Athena, and in Corinth he was the main god |
| culture played important roles in every Greek's life. | | | | of the city. Apollo was a close associate god, and |
| From the family hearth, to the life-giving sun, to the | | | | while Poseidon's realm was generally seen to be in the |
| water they bathed in, Greek gods were seen to | | | | areas of the Earth and bodies of water, he also had |
| govern all aspects of daily life. While some regions of | | | | another trait that was a bit more sinister. Poseidon |
| the Greek realm were actual cults, which meant they | | | | was also blamed for causing mental disturbances, |
| worshiped one god or goddess above all others; | | | | such as epilepsy. He shared this ability with both the |
| others prayed to specific figures at different points in | | | | god Dionysus, and the creatures known as the |
| the year or for different strengths. If a mariner was | | | | Maenads. |
| about to go to sea, it is pretty certain that he would | | | | When sailors embarked on voyages, they prayed |
| have prayed to Poseidon. | | | | heavily to Poseidon. Occasionally, they would even |
| While Poseidon's largest governance was the sea and | | | | sacrifice horses by drowning (as he was also known |
| ocean, he was also considered the god of horses, and | | | | as the god of horses). It was said that when Poseidon |
| the "Earth-Shaker", creator of earthquakes. In | | | | was in his benevolent aspect, he created both calm |
| Mycenaean culture, Poseidon was seen as the most | | | | seas and new islands. When the god was displeased |
| powerful of all the gods, even above Zeus - he was | | | | or angered, however, he would cause earthquakes |
| the most frequently written about god in the entire | | | | and shipwrecks by striking the ground with his trident. |
| pantheon. At this point, he was associated with "Two | | | | Poseidon was often pictured in a chariot being pulled |
| Queens", Demeter and Persephone, although in later | | | | by horses or sea horses, holding a trident, and |
| Hellenic Greece he was not at all related to these | | | | associated with dolphins. |