In Greek mythology, Poseidon (Greek: Ποσειδών) was the god of the sea, as well as horses and, as "Earth-Shaker", of earthquakes. The sea gods Rodon in Illyrian mythology, Nethuns in Etruscan, and Neptune in Roman mythology were sea gods analogous to Poseidon.
Birth and triumph over Cronus
Poseidon was a son of Cronus and Rhea. Like his brother Zeus, he did not share the fate of his other brothers and sisters who were eaten by Cronos. He was saved by his mother Rhea who tricked Cronus into eating a stone wrapped in a sheet instead. Zeus and his brothers and sisters, along with the Hecatonchires, Gigantes and Cyclopes overthrew Cronus and the other Titans. According to other variants, Poseidon was raised by the Telchines on Rhodes, just as Zeus was raised by the Korybantes on Crete.
When the world was divided in three, Zeus received the sky, Hades the underworld and Poseidon the sea.
Other stories
Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens after a competition with Poseidon. They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprung up; the water was salty and not very useful, whereas Athena offered them an olive tree. The Athenians (or their king, Cecrops) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food. This is thought to remember a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants. It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the Persian fleet at Salamis Island in a sea battle. Another version of the myth says that Poseidon gave horses to Athens
Poseidon and Apollo, having offended Zeus, were sent to serve King Laomedon. He had them build huge walls around the city and promised to reward them well, a promise he then refused to fulfill. In vengeance, before the Trojan War, Poseidon sent a sea monster to attack Troy (it was later killed by Heracles).
In the Iliad Poseidon favors the Greeks, and on several occasion takes an active part in the battle against the Trojan forces. However, in Book XX he rescues Aeneas after the Trojan prince is laid low by Achilles.
In the Odyssey, Poseidon is notable for his hatred of Odysseus due to the latter's having blinded the god's son Polyphemus. The enmity of Poseidon prevents Odysseus's return home to Ithaca for many years. Odysseus is even told, notwithstanding his ultimate safe return, that to placate the wrath of Poseidon will require one more voyage on his part.
In the Aeneid, Neptune is still resentful of the wandering Trojans, but is not as vindictive as Juno, and in Book I he rescues the Trojan fleet from the goddess's attempts to wreck it, although his primary motivation for doing this is his annoyance at Juno's having intruded into his domain.
2007-02-25 05:27:23
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answer #1
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answered by Depy greece!! 4
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man the monster was the sphinx and the price was Orthos "A Sphinx, a beast of double form, had come to Thebes and was propounding a riddle to anyone who might be able to solve it, and many were being slain by her because of their inability to do so. And although a generous reward was offered to the man who should solve it, that he should marry Jokaste and be king of Thebes, yet no man was able to comprehend what was propounded except Oidipous, who alone solved the riddle. What had been propounded by the Sphinx was this: What is it that is at the same time a biped, a triped, and a quadraped? And while all the rest were perplexed, Oidipous declared that the animal proposed in the riddle was ‘man’, since as an infant he is a quadruped, when grown a biped, and in old age a triped, using, because of his infirmity, a staff. At this answer the Sphinx, in accordance with the oracle which the myth recounts, threw herself down a precipice." - Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4.64.4
2016-03-28 23:41:41
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Posiedon in ancient greek mythology is the god of the seas, as well as horses, and as "earth shaker" of earthquakes! He is famous for being basacilly the god of water. I learned it last year and thats what i put down on tests and got it right! lol ..Sailors prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice. In his benign aspect, Poseidon created new islands and offered calm seas. When offended or ignored, he struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.
2007-02-25 02:23:31
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answer #3
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answered by ravenrobin123 1
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Posiedon was the Greek god of the sea. He was famous for causing storms. Odysseus prayed to Posiedon not to capsize his ships during his adventures.
2007-02-25 02:19:53
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Poseidon is the god of Sea according to the Ancient Greek Mythology. He was the brother of Zeus and he lead a very interesting life with a lot of scandals as his brother.
He married to many times with different wives,he tried to obbey them and he did a lot of children, most of them monsters. Triton is the most famous son of him.
He also tried to stop Oddyses to the journey to Ithaka, because the latest burned his temple in Troy.
He also tried to beat Athena in the battle for the name of "Athens",which was till that time a city without a name. So Kikeron,the first king of Athena and one of the greatest kings of her, invited Poseidon and Athena in order to find a protector of the city. He said that the one that will give my city the best thing will be her protector.
Poseidon gave him a horse that created from water and soil and Athena gave him an olive tree. Kikeron prefered the gift of Athena and she became the protector of Athens.
The story above is the most common for Poseidon.
;) Hope I answered your question
2007-02-25 05:46:32
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answer #5
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answered by Cle@r Sky 07 3
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Poseidon is the god of the sea in Greek mythology. His most famous incarnation is in the Odyssey, in which he rules the fate of the hero Odysseus and torments his ship's path.
2007-02-25 02:20:08
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answer #6
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answered by Beauty Bunny 3
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All that plus he got in a tussle with Athena over the naming of Athens. He offered the good citizens a pair of his famous horses but the locals went for the olive tree that Athena put up. Guess who won.
2007-02-25 02:59:56
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answer #7
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answered by The Stainless Steel Rat 5
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He is the Greek God of the sea. The Roman equivalent is Neptune.
2007-02-25 02:20:32
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answer #8
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answered by Man_Hat_Tan 3
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Poseidon is the god of the sea and the sea creatures.
Ok, sweety?
Have a nice project...
2007-02-25 20:20:03
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answered by Anonymous
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Poseidon = god of the sea
2007-02-25 03:25:08
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answer #10
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answered by cpinatsi 7
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