Poseidon (Neptune) - Greek God of the Sea. | Greek Mythology Pantheon Greek Mythology Pantheon Greek Mythology Pantheon > Poseidon (Neptune) – Greek God of the Sea Poseidon (Neptune) – Greek God of the Sea Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan Poseidon (Roman equivalent is Neptune) is one of the twelve Olympian deities of the pantheon in Greek mythology, brother of Zeus and Hades (Pluto). His main domain is the ocean, and he is called the "God of the Sea". Additionally, he is referred to as "Earth-Shaker" due to his role in causing earthquakes, and has been called the "tamer of horses". He is usually depicted as an older male with curly hair and beard. Poseidon, like his brothers and sisters, lived the first years of his life in the dark belly of his father Cronus. By the time their brother, Zeus, with the magical potion of Metis, managed to get them out of the peculiar prison. There are also other myths about the birth of Poseidon.

Thus, the ancient poets tell that Rhea in the case of Poseidon managed to fool her husband. Rather than giving him to swallow the divine infant, she gave him, wrapped in swaddling clothes, a newborn horse. Then, in order to conceal the baby's crying from Cronus, Rhea put it to grow among a flock of sheep. The nymph Arne took over the growing up of Poseidon. Someday Cronus went through there, because he thought he heard the crying of a baby, and asked Arne if there was a baby nearby. She replied to him with cleverness, that how a baby could be born by sheep or by her that was single. Cronus was fooled and ashamed by her answer and left. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God fighting a sea monster - Art Picture Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God fighting a sea monster - Art Picture She therefore called Telchines, deities similar to the Curetes of Crete, who protected Zeus. Each time the newborn was crying, savages Telchines start dancing, screaming and hitting their spears on earth. Within such a big panic and in such a fuss Cronus could not hear anything.

However, what made the early years of his life was to help his brothers in order to outplay their father and the other Titans and take power into their hands. After that, the three sons of Cronus decided to divide the world. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Gokberk Kaya Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Gokberk Kaya At the suggestion of Zeus, they divided the world in three domains, the sky, the sea and the underworld. Olympus and Earth remained commonplace for visiting them whenever they wanted. Because all three wanted the sky and none naturally wanted to reign for all his life in the underworld, they did draw. Zeus pulled first and chose the kingdom of heaven. Poseidon pulled second and chose the sea. Hades (Roman equivalent is Hades) responded with anger, but quickly accepted his fate and withdrew to his dark kingdom. Poseidon could not easily accept the victory of Zeus. Ηe admitted the outcome with cold heart, but since then, there were many times that he argued with his brother, till he recognized his eternal supremacy and omnipotence.

So when Zeus once asked some errand and the marine god refused to perform it, he sent Iris to the ocean palace. Before Iris left, he told her the following words: Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by God of War III ConceptArt Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by God of War III ConceptArt “Tell the King Poseidon that his almighty brother orders him to immediately come to Olympus because I have a job to assign to him. Otherwise, my terrible wrath will fall upon him and he will be dissolved.” Once Poseidon got the message, he got angry and climbed to Olympus. He then tried to convince the other gods that he is equal to Zeus, the father of gods and men. Poseidon said: “Almighty Olympians, this situation must be clarified once and for all. Our mother Rhea and Cronus had three sons, Zeus, Hades and me. We distributed our domains and one took the sky, the second took the darkness, and I took the foaming sea.

However it is not possible anymore for me to accept such threats and intimidation by Zeus.” Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan But the gods looked at each other and without saying a word to sea lord, they gave him to understand that everyone accepts the Zeus as supreme ruler. Then he took a decision that he never would have their support. In another case Poseidon is presented to form an alliance with Hera, Athena and Apollo to take over the power of Zeus, trying to tie him with invisible chains from the sky. After the failure of this effort, Zeus decided to punish his brother, forcing him to work in the service of King Laomedon of Troy. The king instructed the god to build the walls of his city. But when a year passed and Poseidon finished his work, the king refused to give him the agreed fee. He even threatened the god that he will sell him as slave. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Mytheon Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Mytheon Once Poseidon acquired back his divine power, he cruelly avenged the king but also the entire country.

He sent a monster in the Trojan shore, which caused irreparable damage and killed too many residents. The Trojans called oracle which answered that in order to get rid of the monster they had to sacrifice the daughter of Laomedon, Isioni. Once the monster was about to devour the princess, Heracles (Hercules) appeared and saved her. Another difference between Zeus and Poseidon was the conquest of Thetis. Both gods were impressed by the beauty of Nereid and wanted marry her. But Gaia or Themis prophesied that the son of Thetis would be more powerful than his father. So the two brothers, fearing this outcome, retracted from the beautiful sea goddess and decided to marry her to the mortal king Pileas of Fthia. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Artmus Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Artmus As the time passed, Poseidon began to realize the superiority of Zeus, indicated his allegiance and offered his help whenever he needed it. He stood by his side at the Clash of the Titans and Giants. He also helped his brother in many other cases.

He calmed the sea for Zeus to pass with his prey after the abduction of Europe. He helped Leto to find the island of Delos to bring forth his children, Apollo and Artemis. Finally, he protected Io, another mistress of Zeus, when she was persecuted by the jealous Hera. When the first Greek cities were created, each god decided to take one or more cities under protection. In these cities major shrines were erected and the most glorious feasts and sacrifices were dedicated to them. For who would be the protector of a city, sometimes it was decided by the rest of the Olympians, other times by some smaller deities and sometimes by the king and its inhabitants. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Neffo Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Neffo Poseidon unfortunately was usually losing the title of protector each time he tried to claim a city. His quarrel with Hera for who will protect Argolis is well known. The gods had designated as jurors Inachos and the two rivers, Kifisos and Asterion. The jurors decided in favor of Hera. Then the lord of the seabed decided to retaliate. He therefore dried up all water sources of Argolis.

According to another version, he struck the sea with his trident, lifting a huge tidal wave which flooded the country. In the same way, Poseidon was forced to yield the island of Aegina to Zeus, Delphi to Apollo, Naxos to Dionysos and Athens to Athena. Moreover, Helios (Roman equivalent is Helius) claimed the area of Corinth. Then Briareus (one of the Hecatonchires), who was appointed judge, gave the Akrocorinth to Helios and the remaining part of the Isthmus to Poseidon. Poseidon had of course, like the other gods, a stately palace on Mount Olympus which was made by Hephaestus. In it, he remained when required to attend to some important gathering of the gods to get some great decision. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God riding a whale - Art Picture Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God riding a whale - Art Picture Sometimes he was going to feasts that were held to the highest peak of Greece, either in response to a marriage of the immortals, or the birth of a new god, or the anniversary of a victory.

But since Poseidon was the lord of the sea and there he spent most of his time, he had a golden palace into the vast depths of the ocean. Corals and shells adorned his strangely beautiful, underwater accommodation. Huge diamonds were glistening and were giving light to the dark seabed. Thousands goldfish followed him everywhere and looked for his blue tunic to be groomed. The entrance of the palace was vigilantly guarded, day and night, by two huge marine seahorses. When the revered ruler of the bottoms came out of his palace to ascend to the surface, all the beasts of the ocean recognized their master and sidetracked for him to pass. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by TaekwondoNJ Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by TaekwondoNJ The lawful wife of Poseidon is Amphitrite, one of the daughters of Nereus. Once, the god was passing through Naxos and met the Nereids, who were playing on the shore with a colourful handball. Amphitrite stood out from all her sisters due to her beauty and grace.

Poseidon fell madly in love with her, he kidnapped her and drove her to a cave where he married and mated with her. But there is a different version that describes a more thrilling divine mating. Amphitrite did not like Poseidon and resisted. She managed to escape, plunged into the azure blue sea and disappeared. Poseidon was searching, in vain, for her in all coasts and in all sea caves. He was tipping up the rocks and shaking the sand of the sea, but without any result. One day he sat sad and thoughtful on a rock. He was approached by a dolphin that asked him why he was so distressed. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Seraphim87 Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Seraphim87 When Poseidon explained, the dolphin promised to its master that it would do anything to find Amphitrite. It travelled for days and nights, and finally found her in Atlas territory near Africa. Then with scherzo and games it managed to lure her and brought her in front of Poseidon. The earth-shaking king, in order to thank his assistant, made him later a constellation.

From the union of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a son was born, Triton, and two daughters, Rhodes and Venthesikymi. The seafarer god had numerous extramarital affairs with goddesses, nymphs and mortals and is considered the father of some of the most famous bandits of antiquity and many of the terrible monsters. But he also left offspring that were honored heroes, founders of important families and city founders. In this subject, he was much more fortunate than his brother Zeus. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by uysaltimsah Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by uysaltimsah Amphitrite was not jealous of her husband as Hera. There is but only one legend about the revenge of the sea goddess. When once Poseidon fell in love with nymph Scylla, Amphitrite threw magical herbs in the fountain where the nymph bathed, the effect of which was to turn the beautiful daughter into a horrible monster. By the time Demeter searched across the entire earth to find her daughter, Persephone, who was abducted by Hades, Poseidon was madly in love with her.

She, in an attempt to avoid him, morphed into a mare and hid among Onkiou’s horses. The god was not fooled by the trick of his sister, turned into a horse and mated with her, without her even noticing it. Demeter was angry from the misfortune and in order to purge the awful sin, she washed herself in the river Ladon. From this strange mating a daughter was born and the faithful, who were not initiated to the mysteries of Demeter, trembled even to say her name. So they called her Lady or Despina (Despoina in Greek is Miss). Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Angg Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by Angg But a horse was also born, Arion. This was a magnificent animal that could think and speak with a human voice. Arion’s unique speed saved Adrastos during the campaign of the seven chiefs against Thiva. It is said that Poseidon had a similar mate with Medusa. Medusa belonged to the generation of Centaurs and had extraordinary beauty to her human body parts.

Once when Poseidon came ashore and was walking to the green pastures of Thessaly, met her and unable to resist to the erotic passion, he transformed into a horse, otherwise there was no way to mingle with her. Nearby there was a temple of the virgin goddess Athena. The goddess was extremely angered that such a sin happened in her sacred space. But she could not punish the culprit because he was an immortal god and even belonged to a previous generation of her. So, she broke out to Medusa, transformed her into a terrible monster which had poisonous snakes instead of hair. This monster was killed, much later, by Perseus. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by rodolfoguerreiro From their union, Chrysaoras were born, father of the three-bodied giant Geryon, and the winged horse Pegasus. Additionally, the flirty god mated with the Earth, the par excellence fertile goddess, although she was his grandmother. From their mate, a giant was born, Antaeus, who is said that reigned in Libya. Any stranger that stepped a foot in his country was doomed to die. The terrible giant was challenging the stranger in a fight and was always victorious.

He was dedicating the skulls of the victims to his father’s temple. Antaeus was invincible when he was touching his mother Earth. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by mullerpereira Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by mullerpereira Heracles, the time that he sought the golden apples of the Hesperides, passed from Libya, fought with him and choked him by lifting him into the air and making him vulnerable. Poseidon was considered the father of another monster, Vousiri, who acted in Egypt and killed all the visitors of his country. Eventually, like Antaeus, he was exterminated by Heracles. Even Amykos was considered son of the sea god and the nymph Melia. He lived in Bithynia and killed all the travelers who passed through there. Finally, Pollux put an end to his injustices when he arrived with the other Argonauts in those parts. They say that the beautiful and brave hero did not kill the giant, but forced him to swear in the name of his divine father that he would not kill again any visitor.

Most of the robbers and bandits that were killed by Theseus while going from Troezen to Athens had Poseidon as their father. Skironas, Sinis, Procrustes and the Kerkyonas found terrible death in the same way that they tortured those passing by after robbing them. One myth says that Poseidon mated with Alopis’s granddaughter, Kerkyona’s daughter, and had with her a son, Ippothoonta who gave his name to the Ippothoontida tribe of Attica. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by mellon007 Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by mellon007 The most famous giant son of god was the Cyclops Polyphemus, from his mate with the Nymph Thoossa. He had no family relationship with homonymous sons of Gaia. He personifies the blind and brutal force that lacks any trace of logic. Homer tells us the passions of Odysseus, who tricked him by telling him that his name was “No-one”. For this act, however, Poseidon chased the king of Ithaca too, during the ten-year course for his country.

Cycnos (Swan) is also considered to be the son of the sea lord and Skamandrodikis. He died after a long battle with Achilles and transformed into the namesake bird. The giant Orion also came from the mating of the god with Euryale, daughter of Minos. Poseidon even gave his son the gift of walking on the waves of the sea. Finally, according to tradition, sons of god were also the Aloades, Otos and Ephialtes, from his coupling with Ifimedeia. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by GBrush Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God - Art Picture by GBrush The fatherhood of many monsters and giants is attributed to Poseidon. Besides, in order to avenge some mortals, he often sent various monsters to wreak havoc. We have already mentioned the monster sent to Troy to avenge the king Laomedon. Once, the Nereids complained to their master that Cassiopeia, Queen of Ethiopia, boasted that she was more beautiful than them. The enraged god sent a monster on the coast of the country, which caused terrible disasters.

The oracle said that the country would be exempt from this calamity only if the king Cepheus sacrificed his daughter Andromeda. But at the moment that the monster was about to devour the beautiful princess, Perseus arrived with the winged sandals and saved her. Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God under a cloudy sky - Art Picture Poseidon (Neptune) Greek God under a cloudy sky - Art Picture Well knows is also the adventure of Poseidon with Danaida Amymoni. After the drought sent by Poseidon to avenge Argos, she was looking for water in the forest. But a Satyr swooped at her with violent moods. In order to save her, he struck with his trident the Satyr and killed him. After that, he hit a rock and the spring Lerna flowed. From his love with Amymoni he gained a son, Nafplion, who gave his name to the famous city of the Peloponnese. Also, one of the most important heroes of antiquity, Theseus, was considered the son of Poseidon and Aethra who she met on the island Thira.

From Melanippe, the sea lord had two twin sons, Boeotia and Aeolus, who later became famous heroes and the territories Boeotia and Aiolia were named after them. His relationship with Tyro is also important. She was in love with Enipeas, the most beautiful river. She passed her whole day on his banks, waiting to see him. Greek God Poseidon (Neptune) Statue - A sculpture of Poseidon in the port of Copenhagen. Greek God Poseidon (Neptune) Statue - A sculpture of Poseidon in the port of Copenhagen. Poseidon, who loved her, appeared before her in the form of the river and mated with her. They had two sons, Pelias and Neleus. Pelias reigned in Thessaly and Neleus settled in Messinia and founded Pylos. Poseidon also mated with Neleus’s wife, Flora, and had a son, Periklymenos, who gave him the ability to transform into any animal he wished. Also from Kleito he acquired Atlas and from Melantho he acquired Delphos, who gave his name to Delphi.

From Corfu he had Faiakas and from Rodi he obtained Ialyssos, Kamiros and Lindos, who gave their names to the three most important cities of Rhodes. Poseidon as a god of the sea is responsible for the terrible storms and floods caused with a touch of the trident, but also for the smoothed sea and calm trips of the seafarers. For this reason, the latter considered him their patron. Greek God Poseidon (Neptune) Statue - Poseidon from Milos, 2nd century BC (National Archaeological Museum of Athens) Greek God Poseidon (Neptune) Statue - Poseidon from Milos, 2nd century BC (National Archaeological Museum of Athens) Besides, the Argonauts immediately after the successful completion of their mission dedicated their ship, the fast traveling Argo, to Poseidon. The fishermen also prayed and made sacrifices to the god in order for him to bring them good catch. The ancient Greeks believed that Poseidon tamed horses, so they also honored him with horse races. The gifts that were usually sacrificed were horses and bulls. The fishermen offered him fish. Poseidon was worshiped in a lot of places throughout the Greek territory.

Temples existed in most capes like in Sounion, in Tainaro and in Malea. Beloved symbol of the god after the trident was the fish, especially tuna, dolphin and occasionally the bull and the horse. Please leave a comment if you liked this article 🙂 All pictures are also uploaded in Albums on the Greek Mythology Pantheon page on Facebook, visit us at : You may also like: Table of Roman Equivalents of Greek Gods Table of Roman Equivalents of Greek Gods Table of Roman Equivalents of Greek Gods Equivalent Roman and Greek Names for the Olympians and Minor Gods Relief sculpture depicting (left to right) Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis. Dating from the 5th century B.C. the relief was discovered at the site of a stoa (a covered colonnade) at Bauron, Greece. David Lees / Corbis Historical / Getty Images By N. S. Gill Updated August 01, 2016. The Romans had many gods and personifications. When they came into contact with other people with their own collection of deities, the Romans often found what they considered equivalents to their gods.

The correspondence between the Greek and Roman gods is closer than that of, say, the Romans and the Britons, because the Romans adopted many of the myths of the Greeks, but there are cases where Roman and Greek versions are only approximations. With that proviso in mind, here are the names of the Greek gods and goddesses, paired with the Roman equivalent, where there is a difference. ( Apollo is the same in both.) If you would like to see this site's entire list of deities, see Gods/Goddesses Index , but if you would just like to have more information on a given major (and a few minor) Greek and Roman gods, click on the names below. For a more complete listing of Roman gods, see Roman Gods and Goddesses . Major Gods of the Greek and Roman Pantheons Greek Name The goddess of chance and good fortune For More Information The great Greek epics, Hesiod 's Theogony and Homer 's Iliad and Odyssey, provide much of the basic information on the Greek gods and goddesses. The playwrights add to this and give more substance to the myths alluded to in the epics and other Greek poetry. Greek pottery gives us visual clues about the myths and their popularity.

From the modern world, Timothy Gantz' Early Greek Myths looks at literature and art to explain the early myths and their variants. The ancient Roman writers Vergil, in his epic Aeneid , and Ovid, in his Metamorphoses and Fasti, weave the Greek myths into the Roman world. There are other ancient writers, of course, but this is just a brief look at sources. Online Resources An excellent online source for the Greek gods and their myths is Carlos Parada's Greek Mythology Link . Neptune *** Who was Neptune? Neptune was the Roman god of the seas and water. He was designated as the god of springs, lakes and rivers before becoming a god of the sea and venerated by the Romans as the father of all living beings on Earth through the fertilising power of rainwater. He was represented in art as a god of the sea, with black or dark hair wearing garments of an azure or sea-green color and seated in a large shell chariot drawn by whales, horses or sea-horses. He is always pictured with with his trident in his hand and is usually attended by sea gods and sea goddesses and a retinue of Tritons and sea-nymphs.

On ancient some coins and medals he is depicted mounted on the beak of a ship as a clear indication that he presided over the seas. Neptune was also the patron of horse racing, and was believed by the ancients to have been the creator of the horse. A temple dedicated to him was situated near the Circus Flaminius which was a Roman racetrack. The Circus Flaminius was the venue for horse races with one rider and his horse going around the turning posts, unlike the Circus Maximus which was the venue for chariot races in Rome. Picture of Neptune (Greek counterpart Poseidon) Facts about Neptune The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Neptune: Neptune Profile & Fact File Roman Name: Neptune Role & Function: The function of Neptune is described as being the god of the seas, springs, lakes and rivers Status: Major God and one of the 'Dei Consentes', the Council of Gods.

Symbols: His symbols include the horse, the trident, the dolphin and the bull Gender: Male Greek Counterpart: The Greek name for this god was Poseidon Name of Wife: Amphitrite the Queen of the sea, the daughter of Nereus and Doris Name of Father: Saturnus (Saturn) Name of Mother: Ops (Opis) Name of siblings: Brothers & sisters: Jupiter, Pluto, Vesta, Juno and Ceres Names of Children: The merman Triton, Proteus and the sea Nymphs Rhode and Benthesicyme Neptune and the Roman Gods Family Tree and Genealogy The Roman gods family tree provides an instant overview of the genealogy and the family connections and relationships between the main deities, including Neptune, who feature in the legends and mythology of the ancient Romans. The Primeval gods and deities, the Titans and the Roman Olympians. Children of Neptune The children of Neptune are most commonly named as Triton, Proteus, Rhode and Benthesicyme.

However according to some ancient myths and legends he was also the father of: Ephialtes a giant son Halirrhothius a son of Neptune who was slain by Mars Otus a giant son of Neptune who was slain by Diana and Apollo Polyphemus a Giant son of Neptune blinded by Ulysses Facts about Neptune in Roman Mythology Discover interesting information and facts about Neptune, the Roman god of the seas and water. The facts about Neptune provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Neptune in Roman Mythology and history. History and Mythical Facts about Neptune Fact 1 about Neptune: He was the son of Saturnus and Ops, the brother of Jupiter, Pluto, Vesta, Juno and Ceres and the husband of Amphitrite Fact 2 about Neptune: Neptune was worshipped by the Romans as the god of horses, under the name Neptunus Equester Fact 3 about Neptune: He delayed the return of Odysseus from the Trojan War by causing his boat to be shipwrecked. Fact 4 about Neptune: The Neptunalia was the festival that took place in honor of Neptune on July 23.

It was one of the 'dies comitiales' when committees of Roman citizens could vote on civil or criminal matters Fact 5 about Neptune: Neptunalia was a water-related festival held in honor of the god. Fact 6 about Neptune: During sacrifices to the Roman gods, at festivals like Neptunalia, the sex of the victim had to correspond to the sex of the god to whom it was offered. White animals were given to the gods of the upper world whereas black victims to the gods of the underworld. Fact 7 about Neptune: He ravished Medusa , a beautiful priestess on the floor of a temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. The poor girl was then changed into the mythical creature called Medusa, a monstrous mythical creature called a Gorgon Fact 8 about Neptune: In earlier times the Roman god Portunes or Fortunus who was thanked for naval victories Fact 9 about Neptune: Neptune had two temples in Rome. One temple was located near the the Circus Flaminius, the Roman racetrack.

The second temple was called the the Basilica Neptuni was located on the Campus Martius and was built by Agrippa in honour of the naval victory of Actium Fact 10 about Neptune: The planet Neptune was named after the Roman god, as its deep blue gas clouds gave the early astronomers the impression of great oceans and seas. Picture of Neptune used for advertising in 1866 Neptune (Greek Counterpart was Poseidon) The Romans habitually assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Greeks and other nations. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC many of the Greek gods and goddesses were adopted by the Romans. The Romans simply changed the Greek gods names to Latin equivalents. The Greek counterpart of Neptune was Poseidon. The Roman religion significantly differed from the Greeks in that it was officially endorsed by the state and exerted influence over the government of Rome. Politicians took the offices of influential priests, called pontiffs, to gain control of the popular worship, Roman gods and goddesses like Neptune were worshipped at every public event, including the gladiatorial games, where blood sacrifices were made to the gods.

In ancient Rome, the pantheon of 12 major gods, including Neptune, were called the 'Dei Consentes' meaning the Council of Gods. The Symbols of Neptune The Roman god of the sea was often illustrated with pictures, mosaics and images representing his symbols. He was often depicted seated on his sea shell chariot drawn by mythical creatures called Hippocamps, which were the horses of the sea with the head and fore-parts of a horse and the tail of a fish. The Roman god Neptune in his shell chariot drawn by Hippocamps (Horses of the sea) The symbols of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea were: The Symbol of the Trident The trident of power represented his ability to control water. The trident were made by the Cyclopes before the war between the Olympians and Titans. The Symbol of the Horse The symbol of the horse is because Neptune was believed to have created the first horse.

The horses that pulled his sea shell chariot were called Hippocamps The Symbol of the Dolphin The symbol of the dolphin was sacred to Poseidon, dolphins as they reflected his ability to move in and out of water The Symbol of the Bull The symbol of the bull is associated with the god due to the mythology of the Cretan Bull Facts about Neptune - Roman Sea Gods Family Tree The following Roman Sea Gods family tree provides and overview of the lineage and genealogy of Neptune. Neptune Interesting information and Facts about the Roman god Neptune Neptune, the Roman god of the seas and water Stories and Legends in Roman Mythology associated with Neptune Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids Neptune, the Roman god of the seas and water 1000+ images about POSEIDON / NEPTUNE | LOST IN MYTH on Pinterest | Greek gods, Of the seas and Greek mythology Neptune, Roman god of the oceans. Antique bust of Neptune, known as Poseidon in the Greek pantheon.

See More Table of Roman Equivalents of Greek Gods Table of Roman Equivalents of Greek Gods Table of Roman Equivalents of Greek Gods Equivalent Roman and Greek Names for the Olympians and Minor Gods Relief sculpture depicting (left to right) Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis. Dating from the 5th century B.C. the relief was discovered at the site of a stoa (a covered colonnade) at Bauron, Greece. David Lees / Corbis Historical / Getty Images By N. S. Gill Updated August 01, 2016. The Romans had many gods and personifications. When they came into contact with other people with their own collection of deities, the Romans often found what they considered equivalents to their gods. The correspondence between the Greek and Roman gods is closer than that of, say, the Romans and the Britons, because the Romans adopted many of the myths of the Greeks, but there are cases where Roman and Greek versions are only approximations. With that proviso in mind, here are the names of the Greek gods and goddesses, paired with the Roman equivalent, where there is a difference.

( Apollo is the same in both.) If you would like to see this site's entire list of deities, see Gods/Goddesses Index , but if you would just like to have more information on a given major (and a few minor) Greek and Roman gods, click on the names below. For a more complete listing of Roman gods, see Roman Gods and Goddesses . Major Gods of the Greek and Roman Pantheons Greek Name The goddess of chance and good fortune For More Information The great Greek epics, Hesiod 's Theogony and Homer 's Iliad and Odyssey, provide much of the basic information on the Greek gods and goddesses. The playwrights add to this and give more substance to the myths alluded to in the epics and other Greek poetry. Greek pottery gives us visual clues about the myths and their popularity. From the modern world, Timothy Gantz' Early Greek Myths looks at literature and art to explain the early myths and their variants. The ancient Roman writers Vergil, in his epic Aeneid , and Ovid, in his Metamorphoses and Fasti, weave the Greek myths into the Roman world.

There are other ancient writers, of course, but this is just a brief look at sources. Online Resources An excellent online source for the Greek gods and their myths is Carlos Parada's Greek Mythology Link . Neptune, Eighth Planet from the Sun | Wyzant Resources Source Appropriately named, Neptune is an ocean god for an ocean-colored planet. You can see his symbol, the trident, below. Astronomers use Neptunes fishing spear, the trident, for the planetary symbol. Neptune is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Poseidon, god of the sea. Mythological History of Neptune, or Poseidon Neptune, or in Greek mythology, Poseidon, is one of the twelve gods of Olympus. He is known as God of the Sea. He also causes earthquakes ("earth-shaker"), and is known as the "tamer of horses." For this reason, horses often were used to indicate Poseidon. Poseidon was the son of Kronos and Rhea. In most accounts, he is swallowed by Kronos and later saved by Zeus .

According to the Iliad, the world was split between Zeus, Hades , and Poseidon; Zeus received the heavens, Hades received the underworld, and Poseidon received the sea. Poseidon fathered many children, including Theseus, Pelias and Neleus, and possibly Pegasus. He had sexual relations with Amphitrite, Tyro, Amymone, Cleito, Demeter, and Medusa. He was worshiped in Athens (second only to Athena, goddess of Athens), and was the most important god in Corinth. Poseidon rode on a chariot pulled by horses and lived on a palace on the ocean floor. Scientific facts about Neptune: Neptune had to wait until modern times to have a planet named in his honor. In the early 1800s, astronomers carefully observed the planet Uranus in order to determine its exact orbit around the sun. They found to their surprise, that its actual movement lagged a bit behind what their calculations were predicting. In 1820, French astronomer Alexis Bouvard began making tables predicting the movements of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The tables seemed to work for Jupiter and Saturn, but he found it impossible to predict where Uranus should be.

Some believed there might be another planet beyond Uranus whose gravitational pull was slowing it slightly. An English astronomer, John Couch Adams, and a French astronomer, Urbain J. J. Leverrier, unknown to each other, both calculated where such a planet must be to account for the effect on Uranus. They both came out with the same results: Leverrier was the first to announce his results and on September 23, 1846, Johann Galle, in Berlin, confirmed the existence of a new planet, less than one degree from the predicted position and, behold, there was the eighth planet. It was named Neptune, not for any particular reason, but because Neptune was one important god who did not have a planet named in his honor. Neptune is another gas giant, similar in size and structure to Uranus. Although discovered in 1846, the eighth planet did not return to the position where scientists first saw it until 2011. Neptune orbits slowly because it is far from the Sun. In size and color, Neptune seems to be a twin to Uranus, but Neptune does not spin on its side; its axis tilts only a little more than that of Earth.

The orbits of two moons, Triton and Nereid, crisscross the equator diagonally. Between Triton, the largest satellite, and the planet itself, six small, recently discovered moons also orbit. The planet is about seventeen times more massive than Earth. Astronomers now regard Neptune and Uranus as twin planets, somewhat alike in size, density, mass, and rotation. Sign up for free to access more Greek gods resources like . Wyzant Resources features blogs, videos, lessons, and more about Greek gods and over 250 other subjects. Stop struggling and start learning today with thousands of free resources! Neptune (mythology) | Religion-wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Etymology The etymology of Neptunus is unclear and disputed. The ancient grammarian Varro derived the name from nuptus i.e. covering (opertio), with a more or less explicit allusion to the nuptiae, marriage of Heaven and Earth. [5] Among modern scholars P.

Kretschmer proposed a derivation from Indo-European (IE) *neptu-, moist substance; [6] but Dumezil remarked words deriving from root *nep are not attested in IE languages other than Vedic and Avestan. He proposed an etymology that brings together Neptunus with Vedic and Avestan theonyms Apam Napat, Apam Napá and Old Irish theonym Nechtan, all meaning descendant of the waters. By using the comparative approach the Indo-Iranian, Avestan and Irish figures would show common features with the Roman historicised legends about Neptune. Dumezil thence proposed to derive the nouns from IE root *nepot or *nept, descendant, siter's son. [7] [8] R. Bloch supposed it might be an adjectival form in -no from *nuptu-, meaning "he who is moist". [9] More recently German scholar H.

Petersmann proposed an etymology from IE rootstem *nebh related to clouds and foggs, plus suffix -tu denoting an abstract verbal noun, and adjectival suffix -no which refers to the domain of activity of a person or his prerogatives. IE root *nebh, having the original meaning of damp, wet, has given Sanskrit nábhah, Hittite nepis, Latin nubs, nebula, German nebel, Slavic nebo etc. The concept would be close to that expressed in the name of Greek god Όυράνος , derived from IE root *h 2 vórso-, to water, irrigate and *h2vorsó, the irrigator. [10] [11] This etymology would be more in accord with Varro's. A different etymology grounded in the legendary history of Latium and Etruria was proposed by Preller and Müller-Deeke: Etruscan Nethunus, Nethuns would be an adjectival form of toponym Nepe(t), Nepete (presently Nepi), town of the ager Faliscus near Falerii.

The district was traditionally connected to the cult of the god: Messapus and Halesus, eponymous hero of Falerii, were believed to be his own sons. Messapus led the Falisci and others to war in the 'Aeneid. [12] Nepi and Falerii have been famed since antiquity for the excellent quality of the water of their springs, scattered in meadows. Worship and theology Mosaic of Neptune in the Regional Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas, Palermo, Sicily. The theology of Neptune may only be reconstructed to some extent as since very early times he was identified with the Greek god Poseidon , as he is present already in the lectisternium of 399 BCE. [13] Such an identification may well be grounded in the strict relationship between the Latin and Greek theologies of the two deities. [14] It has been argued that Indo-European people, having no direct knowledge of the sea as they originated from inland areas, reused the theology of a deity originally either chthonic or wielding power over inland freshwaters as the god of the sea.

[15] This feature has been preserved particularly well in the case of Neptune who was definitely a god of springs, lakes and rivers before becoming also a god of the sea, as is testified by the numerous findings of inscriptions mentioning him in the proximity of such locations. Servius the grammarian also explicitly states Neptune is in charge of all the rivers, springs and waters. [16] He may find a parallel in Irish god Nechtan, master of the well from which all the rivers of the world flow out and flow back to. Poseidon on the other hand underwent the process of becoming the main god of the sea at a much earlier time, as is shown in the Iliad. [17] In the earlier times it was the god Portunes or Fortunus who was thanked for naval victories, but Neptune supplanted him in this role by at least the first century BCE when Sextus Pompeius called himself "son of Neptune." [18] For a time he was paired with Salacia, the goddess of the salt water. [19] Neptune was also considered the legendary progenitor god of a Latin stock, the Faliscans, who called themselves Neptunia proles.

In this respect he was the equivalent of Mars , Janus , Saturn and even Jupiter among Latin tribes. Salacia would represent the virile force of Neptune. [20] The Neptunalia The Neptunalia was the festival of Neptune on July 23, at the height of summer. The date and the construction of tree-branch shelters [21] suggest a primitive role for Neptune as god of water sources in the summer's drought and heat. [22] The most ancient Roman calendar set the feriae of Neptunus on July 23, two days after the Lucaria of July 19 and 21 and two days before the Furrinalia of July 25. G. Wissowa had already remarked that festivals falling in a range of three days are related to each other. Dumezil elaborated that these festivals were all in some way related to the importance of the function of water during the period of summer heat (canicula), when river and spring waters are at their lowest.

Founding his analysis on the works of Palladius and Columella Dumezil argues that while the Lucaria were devoted to the dressing of woods, clearing the undergrown bushes by cutting on the 19 and then by uprooting on the 21, (and burning them afterwards), the Neptunalia were spent in outings under branch huts (umbrae, casae frondeae), in a wood between the Tiber and the Via Salaria, drinking springwater and wine to escape the heat. It looks as though this festival was a time of general free and urestrained merrymaking during which men and women mixed without the usual Roman traditional social constraints. [23] This character of the festival as well as the fact that Neptune was offered the sacrifice of a bull would point to an agricultural fertility context. [24] The Furrinalia too, devoted to Furrina, a goddess of springs, were referred to those springs which had to be detected by drilling, i.e. required the work of man thence creating a correspondence with the Lucariaof 21, equally entailing an analogous human action upon the soil.

The Furrinalia of July 25 are explained by Dumezil with the hydraulic works again as prescribed by Palladius, i.e. the drilling of wells to detect underground water: patent and hidden waters are thus dealt with on separate though next occasions. Temples Neptune had two temples in Rome . The first, built in 25 BCE, stood near the Circus Flaminius, the Roman racetrack, and contained a famous sculpture of a marine group by Scopas. [25] The second, the Basilica Neptuni, was built on the Campus Martius and dedicated by Agrippa in honour of the naval victory of Actium. [26] Sacrifices Neptune is one of only three Roman gods to whom it was appropriate to offer the sacrifice of bulls , the other two being Apollo and Mars . [27] The wrong offering would require a piaculum if due to inadvertency or necessity. The type of the offering implies a stricter connection between the deity and the worldly realm. [28] Lake Albanus The overflowing of Lake Albanus happened on the date of the Neptunalia.

This prodigy that foretold the fall of Veii is a historical event that Dumezil ascribed to the Roman habit of projecting legendary heritage onto their own history. Livy relates that a haruspex from Veii who had been taken prisoner inadvertently gave away the prophecy that Veii would fall if the waters of the lake should overflow in the inland direction. On the contrary the fact would go to the disadvantage of Rome if the waters were to overflow towards the sea. The prophecy was confirmed by the oracle of Delphi consulted by the Roman senate. This legend would show the scope of the powers hidden in waters and the religious importance of their control: Veientans knowing the fact had been digging channels for a long time as recent archeological finds confirm. There is a temporal coincidence between the conjuration of the prodigy and the works of derivation recommended by Palladius and Columella at the time of the canicula, when the waters are at their lowest. Paredrae Paredrae are entities who pair or accompany a god . They represent the fundamental aspects or the powers of the god with whom they are associated. In Roman religion they are often female.

In later times under Hellenising influence they came to be considered as separate deities and consorts of the god. [29] However this misconception might have been widespread in earlier folk belief. [30] In the view of Dumézil, [31] Neptune's two paredrae Salacia and Venilia represent the overpowering and the tranquil aspects of water, both natural and domesticated: Salacia would impersonate the gushing, overbearing waters and Venilia the still or quietly flowing waters. [32] Salacia and Venilia have been the object of the attention of scholars both ancient and modern. Varro connects the first to salum, sea, and the second to ventus, wind. [33] Festus writes of Salacia that she is the deity that generates the motion of the sea. [34] While Venilia would cause the waves to come to the shore Salacia would cause their retreating towards the high sea. [35] The issue has been discussed in many passages by Christian doctor Aurelius Augustinus .

He devotes one full chapter of his De Civitate Dei to mocking the inconsistencies inherent in the theological definition of the two entitites: since Salacia would denote the nether part of the sea, he wonders how could it be possible that she be also the retreating waves (Venilia being the waves that come to the shore), as waves are obviously a phenomenon of the surface of the sea. [36] Elsewhere he writes that Venilia would be the "hope that comes", one of the aspects or powers of the all encompassing Jupiter understood as the anima mundi. [37] Servius in his commentary to the Aeneid also writes about Salacia and Venilia in various passages, e.g. V 724: "( Venus ) dicitur et Salacia, quae proprie meretricum dea appellata est a veteribus": "(Venus) is also called Salacia, who precisely was named goddess of mercenary women by the ancient". Elsewhere he writes that Salacia and Venilia are indeed the same entity.

[38] Among modern scholars Dumezil with his followers Bloch and Schilling centre their interpretation of Neptune on the more direct, concrete, limited value and functions of water. Accordingly Salacia would represent the forceful and violent aspect of gushing and overflowing water, Venilia the tranquil, gentle aspect of still or slowly flowing water. Preller, Fowler, Petersmann and Takács attribue to the theology of Neptune broader significance as a god of universal worldly fertility, particularly relevant to agriculture and human reproduction. Thence they interpret Salacia as personifying lust, eagerness for sex and Venilia as related to Venus and venia, the attitude of ingraciating, attraction, connected with love and the reproductive function. L. Preller remarked a significant aspect of Venilia mentioning that she was recorded in the indigitamenta also as a deity of longing, desire. He thinks this fact would allow to explain the theonym in the same way as that of Venus.

[39] Other data seem to point in the same direction: Salacia would be the parallel of Thetis as the mother of Achilles , while Venilia would be the mother of Turnus and Iuturna, whom she mothered with Daunus king of the Rutulians. According to another source Venilia would be the wife of Janus with whom she mothered the nymph Canens loved by Picus. [40] These mythical data underline the reproductive function envisaged in the figures of Neptune's paredrae, and particularly that of Venilia in childbirth and motherhood. A legendary king Venulus was remembered at Tibur and Lavinium. [41] Fertility deity and divine ancestor The Triumph of Neptune, 2nd century CE Roman mosaic from La Chebba, Tunisia . The women in the four corners represent the four seasons. German scholar H. Petersmann has proposed a rather different interpretation of the theology of Neptune. Developing his understanding of the theonym as rooted in IE *nebh, he argues that the god would be an ancient deity of the cloudy and rainy sky in company with and opposition to Zeus / Jupiter , god of the clear bright sky.

Similar to Caelus , he would be the father of all living beings on Earth through the fertilising power of rainwater. This hieros gamos of Neptune and Earth would be reflected in literarature, e.g. in Virgil Aeneid. V 14 pater Neptunus. The virile potency of Neptune would be represented by Salacia (derived from salax, salio in its original sense of salacious, lustful, desiring sexual intercourse, covering). Salacia would then represent the god's desire for intercourse with Earth, his virile generating potency manifesting itself in rainfall. While Salacia would denote the overcast sky, the other character of the god would be reflected by his other paredra Venilia, representing the clear sky dotted with clouds of good weather. The theonym Venilia would be rooted in a not attested adjective *venilis, from IE root *ven(h) meaning to love, desire, realised in Sanskrit vánati, vanóti, he loves, Old Icelandic. vinr friend, German Wonne, Latin Venus, venia. Reminiscences of this double aspect of Neptune would be found in Catullus 31.

3: "uterque Neptunus". [42] In Petersmann's conjecture, besides Zeus/Jupiter, (rooted in IE *dei(h) to shine, who originally represented the bright daylight of fine weather sky), the ancient Indo-Europeans venerated a god of heavenly damp or wet as the generator of life. This fact would be testified by Hittite theonyms nepišaš (D)IŠKURaš or nepišaš (D)Tarhunnaš "the lord of sky wet", that was revered as the sovereign of Earth and men. [43] Even though over time this function was transferred to Zeus/Jupiter who became also the sovereign of weather, reminiscences of the old function survived in literature: e.g. in Virgil Aeneid. V 13-14 reading: "Heu, quianam tanti cinxerunt aethera nimbi?/ quidve, pater Neptune, paras?": "Whow, why so many clouds surrounded the sky? What are you preparing, father Neptune?".

[44] The indispensability of water for its fertilizing quality and its strict connexion to reproduction is universal knowledge. [45] Takács too points to the implicit sexual and fertility significance of both Salacia and Venilia on the grounds of the context of the cults of Neptune, of Varro's interpretation of Salacia as eager for sexual intercourse and of the connexion of Venilia with a nymph or Venus . Müller-Deeke and Deeke had already interpreted the theology of Neptune as that of a divine ancestor of a Latin stock, namely the Faliscans, as the father of their founder heroes Messapus and Halesus. Sharing this same approach Fowler considered Salacia the personification of the virile potency that generated a Latin people, parallel with Mars , Saturn , Janus and even Jupiter among other Latins. [46] Neptunus equestris Poseidon was connected to the horse since the earliest times, well before any connection of him with the sea was attested, and may even have originally been conceived under equine form.

Such a feature is a reflection of his own chtonic, violent, brutal nature as earth-quaker, as well as of the link of the horse with springs, i.e. underground water, and the psychopompous character inherent in this animal. [47] There is no such direct connexion in Rome. Neptune does not show any direct equine character or linkage. It was Roman god Consus who bore a connexion to horses: his underground altar was located in the valley of the Circus Maximus at the foot of the Palatine, the place of horse races. On the day of his summer festival (August 21), the Consualia aestiva, it was customary to bring in procession horses and mules crowned with flowers and then hold equine races in the Circus. It appears these games had a rustic character: they marked the end of the yearly agricultural cycle, when harvest was completed. [48] According to tradition this occasion was chosen to enact the abduction of the Sabine (and Latin) women. The episode might bear a reflection of the traditional sexual licence of such occasions.

[49] On that day the flamen Quirinalis and the vestal virgins sacrificed on the underground altar of Consus. The fact the two festivals of Consus were followed after an equal interval of four days by the two festivals of Ops (Opeconsivia on August 25 and Opalia on December 19) testifies to the strict relationship between the two deities as pertaining to agricultural bounty, or in Dumezilian terminology to the third function. This fact shows the radically different symbolic value of the horse in the theology of Poseidon and that of Consus. Perhaps under the influence of Poseidon Ίππιος Consus was reinterpreted as Neptunus equestris and for his underground altar also identified with Poseidon Ένοσίχθων. The archaic and arcane character of his cult, which required the unearthing of the altar, are signs of the great antiquity of this deity and of his chtonic character. He was certainly a deity of agrarian plenty and of fertility.

Dumezil interprets its name as derived from condere hide, store as a verbal noun in -u parallel to Sancus and Janus , meaning god of stored grains. [50] Martianus Capella places Neptune and Consus together in region X of Heaven: it might be that he followed an already old interpretatio graeca of Consus or he might be reflecting an Etruscan idea of a chthonic Neptune. Etruscans were particularly fond of horse races. [51] Neptune in Etruria Nethuns is the Etruscan name of the god. In the past it has been believed that the Roman theonym derived from Etruscan but more recently this view has been rejected. Nethuns was certainly an important god for the Etruscans. His name is to be found on two cases of the Piacenza Liver, namely case 7 on the outer rim and case 28 on the gall-bladder, (plus once in case 22 along with Tinia). This last location tallies with Pliny the Elder's testimony that the gall-bladder is sacred to Neptune.

[52] Theonym Nethuns recurs eight times on columns VIII, IX and XI of the Liber Linteus (flere, flerchva Nethunsl), requiring offerings of wine. [53] On a mirror from Tuscania (E. S. 1. 76) Nethuns is represented while talking to Uśil (the Sun) and Thesan (the goddess of Dawn). Nethuns is on the left hand side, sitting, holding a double ended trident in his right hand and with his left arm raised in the attitude of giving instructions, Uśil is standing at the centre of the picture, holding in his right hand Aplu's bow, and Thesan is on the right, with her right hand on Uśil's shoulder: both gods look intent in listening Nethuns's words. The identification of Uśil with Aplu (and his association with Nethuns) is further underlined by the anguiped demon holding two dolphins of the exergue below. The scene highlights the identities and association of Nethuns and Aplu (here identified as Uśil) as main deities of the worldly realm and the life cycle.

Thesan and Uśil-Aplu, who has been identified with Śuri (Soranus Pater, the underwold sun god ) make clear the transient character of worldly life. [54] The association of Nethuns and Uśil-Aplu is consistent with one version of the thoery of the Etruscan Penates (see section below). In Martianus Capella's depiction of Heaven Neptune is located in region X along with the Lar Omnium Cunctalis (of everybody), Neverita and Consus. The presence of the Lar Omnium Cunctalis might be connected with the theology of Neptune as a god of fertility, human included, while Neverita is a theonym derived from an archaic form of Nereus and Nereid, before the fall of the digamma. [55] For the relationship of Neptune with Consus see the above paragraph. Martianus's placing of Neptune is fraught with questions: according to the order of the main three gods he should be located in region II, ( Jupiter is indeed in region I and Pluto in region III). However in region II are to be found two deities related to Neptune, namely Fons and Lymphae.

Stephen Weinstock supposes that while Jupiter is present in each of the first three regions, in each one under different aspects related to the character of the region itself, Neptune should have been originally located in the second, as is testified by the presence of Fons and Lymphae, and Pluto in the third. The reason of the displacement of Neptune to region X remains unclear, but might point to a second appearance of the triads in the third quarter, which is paralleled by the location of Neth in case 7 of the Liver. [56] It is however consistent with the collocation in the third quadrant of the deities directly related to the human world. [57] Bloch remarks the possible chtonic character and stricter link of Nethuns with Poseidon to which would hint a series of circumstances, particularly the fact that he was among the four gods (Jupiter, Saturn , Neptune and Tellus in order) the haruspices indicated as needing placation for the prodigy related in Cicero's De haruspicum responso 20, i.e. a cracking sound perceived as coming from the underground in the ager latiniensis.

Neptune and the Etruscan Penates Among ancient sources Arnobius provides important information about the theology of Neptune: he writes that according to Nigidius Figulus Neptune was considered one of the Penates, together with Apollo , the two deities being credited with endowing Ilium with immortal walls. In another place of his work, book VI, Nigidius wrote that according to the Etrusca Disciplina his were one among the four genera, types of Penates: of Iupiter , of Neptune, of the underworld and of mortal men. According to another tradition related by a Caesius, [58] also based on the same source, the Etruscan Penates would be Fortuna, Ceres , Genius Iovialis and Pales, this last one being the male Etruscan god (ministrum Iovis et vilicum, domestic and peasant of Jupiter). [59] Depiction in art Antiquity The French Department of Subaquatic Archaeological Research divers (headed by Michel L'Hour) discovered a lifesize marble statue of Neptune, in the Rhone River at Arles; it is dated to the early fourth century.

[60] The statue is one of a hundred artifacts that the team excavated between September and October 2007. [60] [61] Etruscan representations of the god are rare but significative. The oldest is perhaps the carved carnelian scarab from Vulci of the 4th century BCE: Nethuns kicks a rock and creates a spring. (Paris: Bibliothèque Nationale, Cabinet des Medailles). Another Etruscan gem (from the collection of Luynes, inscribed Nethunus) depicts the god making a horse spring out of the earth with a blow of his trident. [62] A bronze mirror of the late 4th century in the Vatican Museums (Museo Gregoriano Etrusco: C.S.E. Vaticano 1.5a) depicting the god with Amymone, daughter of Danaus , whom he prevents being assaulted by a satyr and to whom he will teach the art of creating springs. Nearby are a lion head pouring water from its open mouth and a container with handles.

A bronze mirror from Tuscania dated to 350 BCE also in the Vatican Museums (Museo Gregoriano Etrusco E. S. 1. 76). Nethuns is talking to Usil and Thesan. In the lower exergue is an anguiped demon who holds a dolphin in each hand (identification with Aplu-Apollo is clear also because Uśil holds a bow). Nethuns holds a double-ended trident, suggesting he might be one of the gods who can wield lightningbolts. [63] Renaissance The Renaissance brought with it a revival in pagan art, and many pagan gods were depicted in the same classical models used in Greek and Roman times. However, with Neptune few such models existed, allowing the artists of the Renaissance to depict Neptune however they chose. The results included a face and actions that seemed more mortal, as well as associations with Hercules . The overall effect was to change Neptune's image to a less deified state. [64] Modern culture "King Neptune" plays a central role in the long-standing tradition of the "Line-crossing ceremony" initiation rite still current in many navies, coast guards, and merchant fleets.

When ships cross the equator, "Pollywogs" (sailors who have not done such a crossing before) receive "subpoenas" [65] to appear before King Neptune and his court (usually including his first assistant Davy Jones and Her Highness Amphitrite and often various dignitaries, who are all represented by the highest-ranking seamen). Some Pollywogs may be "interrogated" by King Nepture and his entourage. At the end of the ceremony — which in the past often included considerable hazing — they are initiated as Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune and receive a certificate to that effect. References and notes ↑ J. Toutain, Les cultes païens de l'Empire romain, vol. I (1905:378) securely identified Italic Neptune as a god of freshwater sources as well as the sea.

↑ Alain Cadotte, "Neptune Africain", Phoenix 56.3/4 (Autumn/Winter 2002:330-347) detected syncretic traces of a Lybian/Punic agrarian god of fresh water sources, with the epithet Frugifer, "fruit-bearer"; Cadotte enumerated (p.332) some north African Roman mosaics of the fully characteristic Triumph of Neptune, whether riding in his chariot or mounted directly on sea-beasts. ↑ Dumézil, La religion romaine archaïque (Paris, 1966:381)

Question: What Greek god was the equivalent of the Roman god Neptune?
Answer: Poseidon