Poseidon

Siblings: The Olympians

**Poseidon**, also known as **Neptune**, is the god and ruler of the sea venerated by the ancient Greeks, a son of Rhea and Cronus, and a member of the Dodekatheon. He is also revered as the god of earthquakes, storms, and horses.

## Overview

Poseidon, often known as the "God of the Sea," primarily ruled over the ocean, commanding its vast depths. He was also given the titles "Earth-Shaker" and "Storm-Bringer" due to his role in causing earthquakes and storms. Poseidon was even credited with being the "Father of Horses" as he fashioned these magnificent creatures from sea foam.

Similar to his brother Zeus, Poseidon engaged in numerous affairs, resulting in the birth of many children. Unlike Zeus' vengeful wife Hera, Poseidon's wife, Amphitrite, did not vehemently object to his extramarital relationships. His weapon of choice was the mighty trident, a formidable instrument that could both make the earth tremble with earthquakes and shatter any object it struck.

Poseidon harbored resentment toward Zeus for his dominion over the heavens, and as the second eldest among the gods, he coveted his father's former realm. This longing for power intensified due to Zeus' allocation of domains, leading to a series of conflicts with Zeus as they vied for control. His quarrelsome and contentious nature, combined with his greed, contributed to these feuds. Consequently, Poseidon found himself embroiled in disputes with various other gods as he sought to assert his authority over the cities they patronized.

Poseidon's union with the sea goddess Amphitrite bore a son named Triton. He also fathered a daughter named Rhodos with Aphrodite. Among his other notable offspring were the hero Theseus, the skilled hunter Orion, and the one-eyed cyclops Polyphemus.

## Appearance

His appearance is similar to that of his brothers, Zeus and Hades, with the addition of his crown and trident.

## Personality

Poseidon was also viewed by Hellenists as a particularly lascivious character, entertaining innumerable conquests of goddesses, nymphs and mortal women. Even when his attempts were not successful, Poseidon was not hesitant to take the female he was pursuing by force.

## Powers and Abilities

**Animal Companionship:** Poseidon can form a sacred and powerful union between himself and animal companions, and they both tend to protect and care for one another and assist each other in multiple situations. Poseidon can also share an empowering friendship so that they draw strength from and granting them the power to achieve anything and overcome potential obstacle in their way. The bond they have with their animals is purely sacred because of the pure love they have for one another and use it to synchronize each other and gain a variety of powers they use for themselves.

**Demiurge Physiology:** Poseidon with this ability either is or can transform into a demiurge, an artisan-like being responsible for the fashioning, shaping, and maintenance of the physical universe, or at least some portion of it. It may clear things to know that in Greek *dēmiourgos* means literally "public worker" and was originally a common noun meaning "craftsman" or "artisan", but gradually it came to mean "producer" and eventually "creator" or "maker". Depending on the system, they may be considered to be either uncreated and eternal or considered to be the product of a supreme entity.

**Destroyer Deity:** Poseidon either is or can transform into a destroyer deity, a god/goddess of immense power that can destroy anything and everything, even other divine beings. They can destroy planets, star systems and even universes in an instant. As a Deity of Destruction, Poseidon also has the task of keeping balance in the universe. Working together with creation deities, destroyer deities discuss which planets and/or galaxies need to be destroyed and/or rebuilt. However, they aren't necessarily anti-gods, because their nature is not only evil at all aspects.

**Earth Deity:** Poseidon is an earth deity. Earthian deities are gods and goddesses who represent or are associated with the planet earth or earth-like planets, the lands, mountains, hills, valleys, caves and, in the case of chthonic deities, the underground. They can also cause natural disasters or bring great fertility to the lands. In general, an earth deity is a deity associated with Earth in mythology.

**Horse Deity:** Poseidon with this ability either is or can transform into a Horse Deity, a god/goddess who represents or is associated with Equids, like Horses, Donkeys and Zebras. Equid Deities are common in mythology and were important among the civilizations they were present in, especially in places like India, Greece and Rome.

**Nature Deity:** As an archetype, a nature deity is a god/goddess who represents or is associated with or in charge of forces of nature such as a water deity, vegetation deity, sky deity, solar deity, fire deity or any other naturally occurring phenomena such as mountains, trees, or volcanoes. They are the supreme guardians of nature, they search along the outside world and spread and protect nature they described to be personifications of nature. They have the power to grow, nurture and rejuvenate plant life and even create flowers out of nothing.

**Ocean Deity:** Poseidon either is or can transform into a Sea Deity, a god/goddess who represents or is associated with the sea.

**Rain Deity:** Poseidon with this ability either is or can transform into a Rain Deity, a god/goddess who represents or is associated with water, rain and floods, and even droughts. Rain deities are common in mythology and were usually important among civilizations for the growth of crops.

**River Deity:** Poseidon with this ability either is or can transform into a River Deity, a god/goddess who represents or is associated with water, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, water falls and floods, and even droughts. River Deities are common in mythology and were usually important among civilizations.

**Water Deity:** Poseidon with this ability either is or can transform into a water deity, a god/goddess who represents or is associated with Water, the Seas, Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Wells, Springs, Rain and Floods. A water deity is a deity in mythology associated with water or various bodies of water. Water deities are common in mythology and were usually more important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great river was more important. This was the domains of lake/river and sea deities. Another important focus of worship of water deities has been springs or holy wells. As well as rain/flood Deities with water coming from the skies.

**Weather Deity:** Poseidon is a weather deity, a god/goddess in mythology who represents or is associated with all types of weather and storm phenomenon. These types of deities were very common, very powerful, and even feared for their great powers over the weather and storms in polytheistic religions.

**Divine Object:** Poseidon has access to an object that grants them divine/holy powers. They can range from source materials to apparel to fully-designed weapons; whatever the form, they can impart divine powers to those who lack them entirely or augment the already existing holy capabilities.

**Divine Weaponry:** Poseidon is able to create and wield any kind of weapon of divine powers. The weapon can also grant Poseidon special powers of any kind, make them invincible and even reach the same level of power of a deity making it possible for Poseidon to hurt a god.

**Sacrificial Power:** Poseidon can perform powers of extraordinary feat through sacrificing of anything, like objects, elements, souls, beings or oneself.

**Super-Strength:** Poseidon is glaringly, obviously, and unnaturally stronger than their race because their capabilities are pushed beyond the natural level and superior to most supernatural beings in their verse; making them immensely stronger than normal members of their species (in that 'verse) can be achieved by any method of training.

**Trident Proficiency:** Poseidon, either innately or through training, is a master of wielding tridents, pitchfork-like three-pronged spears used primarily for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. Tridents are also common imagery with many sea-based Gods in mythology due to its roots as a fishing tool, most notably Poseidon of Greek Mythology.

## History

Poseidon was a son of Rhea, the earth mother, and Cronus, the prevailing sky god who ruled over the rest of the Greek pantheon. Fearing that his children would one day usurp him, Poseidon was swallowed by his father immediately after his birth, as were the rest of his brothers and sisters. He was eventually saved by his mother, who tricked Cronus by offering him a large stone wrapped in swaddling clothes in place of her sixth child, Zeus.

Cronus was forced to vomit up Poseidon and the rest of his siblings in the process of ridding the stone from his digestive system. In alternative versions, Poseidon was thrown into the sea by his father as soon as he was born. Either way, Poseidon went on to play a key role in assisting Zeus in usurping Cronus and the rest of the Titans. After Cronus' defeat, the three brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon divided up the universe among themselves, assuming jurisdiction over the sky, the underworld and the sea, respectively.

When the Titanomachy had ended, Zeus and his brothers started working to reshape the world left at their disposal. Their first act was to divide it between them, and therefore they drew lots to decide who was going to rule over which part of the world. Zeus got the heavens, Hades the Underworld and Poseidon the oceans. The earth remained a neutral ground, split among the three gods: Poseidon could cause earthquakes, Zeus controlled the weather, and all living things would come under Hades’ control after their death.

Once, Poseidon found himself desiring Demeter's affection. In an attempt to dissuade his advances, Demeter presented him with a unique challenge. She asked him to craft the most magnificent creature that the world had ever witnessed. In his ardent pursuit to win her favor, Poseidon embarked on the task, ultimately giving rise to the creation of the very first horse.

In certain versions of the tale, Poseidon's initial endeavors proved less than satisfactory, resulting in the formation of various other creatures as he experimented. Consequently, by the time the horse was finally brought into existence, Poseidon's infatuation with Demeter had waned, and he presented her with the horse as a testament to his creative prowess.

## Myths and Legends

As the god Neptune, he was originally considered as the circular body of water around the Roman lands, but was later merged with the Greek deity Poseidon. This hellenised Neptune was usually considered the brother of Jupiter and Pluto, and was married to the sea goddess Salacia.

The eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun in the Solar System was named after them.

## Quotes

*"I have the sea in my veins. I understand the language of the waves. The forces of nature are mine to command. The most fearsome of aquatic beasts? Mine. A raging tempest? Mine again. A tsunami intending to completely eradicate an island? Yes, mine. And all guided by my trident." - Poseidon.*

*"The sea does not like to be restrained." - Poseidon.*

## Trivia

* Theologians have equated Poseidon with Yam, Enki, Nethuns, and Neptonos.