Beekes in Etymological Dictionary of Greek, "there is no indication that δᾶ means 'earth'", although the root da appears in the Linear B inscription E-ne-si-da-o-ne, "earth-shaker". Walter Burkert finds that "the second element δᾶ- remains hopelessly ambiguous" and finds a "husband of Earth" reading "quite impossible to prove". of the earth this would link him with Demeter, "Earth-mother". One theory breaks it down into an element meaning "husband" or "lord" (Greek πόσις ( posis), from PIE *pótis) and another element meaning "earth" ( δᾶ ( da), Doric for γῆ ( gē)), producing something like lord or spouse of Da, i.e. The origins of the name "Poseidon" are unclear. A cult title of Poseidon in Linear B is E-ne-si-da-o-ne, "earth-shaker". The form Ποτειδάϝων ( Poteidawon) appears in Corinth. The earliest attested occurrence of the name, written in Linear B, is □□□□ Po-se-da-o or □□□□□ Po-se-da-wo-ne, which correspond to Ποσειδάων ( Poseidaōn) and Ποσειδάϝονος ( Poseidawonos) in Mycenean Greek in Homeric Greek it appears as Ποσειδάων ( Poseidaōn) in Aeolic as Ποτειδάων ( Poteidaōn) and in Doric as Ποτειδάν ( Poteidan), Ποτειδάων ( Poteidaōn), and Ποτειδᾶς ( Poteidas). After the fight, Poseidon sent a monstrous flood to the Attic plain to punish the Athenians for not choosing him. Īccording to legend, Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens after a competition with Poseidon, though he remained on the Acropolis in the form of his surrogate, Erechtheus. In Plato's Timaeus and Critias, the legendary island of Atlantis was Poseidon's domain. Poseidon is also the subject of a Homeric hymn. In Homer's Iliad, Poseidon supports the Greeks against the Trojans during the Trojan War in the Odyssey, during the sea-voyage from Troy back home to Ithaca, the Greek hero Odysseus provokes Poseidon's fury by blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, resulting in Poseidon punishing him with storms, causing the complete loss of his ship and companions, and delaying his return by ten years. Homer and Hesiod suggest that Poseidon became lord of the sea when, following the overthrow of his father Cronus, the world was divided by lot among Cronus' three sons Zeus was given the sky, Hades the underworld, and Poseidon the sea, with the Earth and Mount Olympus belonging to all three. Poseidon maintained both associations among most Greeks: He was regarded as the tamer or father of horses, who, with a strike of his trident, created springs (in the Greek language, the terms for both are related). In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, Poseidon was venerated as a chief deity at Pylos and Thebes, with the cult title "earth shaker" in the myths of isolated Arcadia, he is related to Demeter and Persephone and was venerated as a horse, and as a god of the waters. He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cities and colonies. Poseidon ( / p ə ˈ s aɪ d ən, p ɒ-, p oʊ-/ Greek: Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses. Under the Romans, Poseidon was poised and ready to become Neptune.Poseidon (right) depicted on a figure vase painting (C6th B.C.) Check out his flowing beard and ruddy complexion. Sea air is obviously good for the libido. Demeter presented him with Arion and Despoena. With Iphimedeia he produced the ill-fated Aloadae twins Otus and Ephialtes. His wife is the reluctant Amphitrite but he still leaps from one lusty affair to the next. He’s the father of many gods and heroes - and of course horses - including Theseus, Triton, Polyphemus, Orion and Pegasus. It’s hard to image this burly old salt cooing over a pony, but perhaps he’s not such a bluff rugged cove as his image suggests. After the Olympian Gods kicked out the Titans, this crusty old seagod took charge of the waves while his brothers Zeus and Hades plumped for the earthy bits.įeared by sailors, he can cause storms and shipwrecks with the aid of his three-pronged trident, but if he’s in a good mood he can soothe the sea to sleep.įor reasons that have so far eluded us, Poseidon the Sea God is well-known for his love of horses.
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