Poseidon
According to Greek mythology, Poseidon was the god of the sea, of horses, and as “Earth Shaker”, of earthquakes. He was integrated into the Olympian gods as the brother of Zeus and Hades. He had many children. He was the protector of many cities but lost the contest for Athens to Athena. Poseidon was a civic god in some Athens cities and was second only to Athena in importance. In Corinth and many cities of Magna Graecia, Poseidon was the chief god.. Poseidon created new islands and calmed the seas. It was said that if he was offended or ignored, he would strike the ground with his trident and caused earthquakes, drownings, shipwrecks, and chaotic springs. Poseidon was one of the caretakers of the oracle at Delphi before Apollo took it over, according to Pausanias. It was said that Apollo and Poseidon worked close together in many instances. Poseidon could also cause some forms of mental disturbances. He was sometimes blamed for some forms of epilepsy.
Poseidon was born to Cronus and Rhea. He was swallowed by Cronus at birth in some reports and in others it is reported that he was saved by his mother just as his brother, Zeus. His mother fed his father a baby horse and saved Poseidon. Zeus was saved when he was hid in a cave by his mother and his father was fed a rock dressed in baby clothes. Either way Poseidon survived because when Cronus swallowed his children, later on Rhea gave him an herb which made him regurgitate the children and the rock. It is stated in some references that Poseidon was raised by the Telchines on Rhodes and Zeus was raised by the Korybantes on Crete. It was also referenced that when the world was divided, Zeus received the sky, Hades received the Underworld, and Poseidon received the sea.
Poseidon lost his contest with Athena, for control of Athens because he struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprung up. The people were surprised but the water was salty so it had very little value to them. Athena gave them an Olive tree and they were very pleased. They could use the olive tree for food, wood, and also for oil. Poseidon was very irritated so he caused a big flood over the Attic Plain to punish the people for not choosing him. Poseidon’s consort was Amphitrite, a nymph and ancient sea goddess. He was the father of many heroes. It is believed that he fathered the famous Theseus. Not all of Poseidons offspring were human. He sired a horse named Arion, who could speak. Poseidon raped Medusa and then she was changed into a monster and later beheaded.Poseidon also sired the merman, Triton, polyphemus, the cyclops, and Oto and Ephialtae, the giants.
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