| Poseidon is one of the more famous of the | | | | was not at all related to these goddesses. He was |
| deities of ancient Greece. Here is an overview of | | | | also seen in this culture as the "Earth Father" with |
| who he was, what he did and his position the | | | | Demeter being the "Earth Mother". |
| Pantheon. | | | | Poseidon was also a major patron god of several |
| The Role of Poseidon In Ancient Greece | | | | large cities within Greece. In Athens, he was |
| The many gods and goddesses of the ancient | | | | second in line only to Athena, and in Corinth he |
| Greek culture played important roles in every | | | | was the main god of the city. Apollo was a close |
| Greek's life. From the family hearth, to the | | | | associate god, and while Poseidon's realm was |
| life-giving sun, to the water they bathed in, Greek | | | | generally seen to be in the areas of the Earth and |
| gods were seen to govern all aspects of daily life. | | | | bodies of water, he also had another trait that |
| While some regions of the Greek realm were | | | | was a bit more sinister. Poseidon was also blamed |
| actual cults, which meant they worshiped one god | | | | for causing mental disturbances, such as epilepsy. |
| or goddess above all others; others prayed to | | | | He shared this ability with both the god Dionysus, |
| specific figures at different points in the year or | | | | and the creatures known as the Maenads. |
| for different strengths. If a mariner was about to | | | | When sailors embarked on voyages, they prayed |
| go to sea, it is pretty certain that he would have | | | | heavily to Poseidon. Occasionally, they would even |
| prayed to Poseidon. | | | | sacrifice horses by drowning (as he was also |
| While Poseidon's largest governance was the sea | | | | known as the god of horses). It was said that |
| and ocean, he was also considered the god of | | | | when Poseidon was in his benevolent aspect, he |
| horses, and the "Earth-Shaker", creator of | | | | created both calm seas and new islands. When |
| earthquakes. In Mycenaean culture, Poseidon was | | | | the god was displeased or angered, however, he |
| seen as the most powerful of all the gods, even | | | | would cause earthquakes and shipwrecks by |
| above Zeus - he was the most frequently written | | | | striking the ground with his trident. Poseidon was |
| about god in the entire pantheon. At this point, he | | | | often pictured in a chariot being pulled by horses |
| was associated with "Two Queens", Demeter and | | | | or sea horses, holding a trident, and associated |
| Persephone, although in later Hellenic Greece he | | | | with dolphins. |