Poseidon
🌊 Who Is Poseidon?
Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea, and one of the Twelve Olympians—the major deities in ancient Greek religion.
Core Domains:
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The Sea and all waters
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Earthquakes (hence his title "Earth-shaker")
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Horses and chariot racing (yes, really!)
🧬 Family & Origins
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Brothers:
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Zeus – king of the gods, sky & thunder
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Hades – god of the underworld
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Parents:
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Cronus (Titan) and Rhea
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After the Olympians defeated the Titans, the three brothers divided the cosmos:
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Zeus got the sky
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Hades got the underworld
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Poseidon got the sea
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🔱 Symbols & Attributes
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Trident – his iconic three-pronged spear, used to stir the seas or cause earthquakes
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Horses – believed to have created the first horse (sometimes credited with inventing them)
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Dolphins, bulls, and sea creatures often accompany him
🏛️ Worship & Temples
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Widely worshiped in coastal cities and islands, especially in Corinth and Athens (where he lost a contest to Athena).
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Sailors and fishermen prayed to him for safe voyages.
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His name was invoked during horse races, storms, and earthquakes.
🧜♂️ Myths & Legends
🌿 1. Contest with Athena (How Athens Got Its Name)
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Both Poseidon and Athena wanted to be patron deity of Athens.
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Poseidon struck the ground with his trident—a saltwater spring (or a horse) emerged.
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Athena gave the olive tree.
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The people (or King Cecrops) chose Athena, as her gift was more useful. Poseidon was salty—literally and metaphorically.
🐍 2. Creation of the Horse
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In one myth, Poseidon created the first horse as part of a divine competition.
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In some versions, horses sprang from the sea foam.
🔥 3. Role in the Odyssey
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Poseidon is the main divine antagonist of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey.
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Why? Because Odysseus blinded his son—the Cyclops Polyphemus.
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Poseidon cursed Odysseus to wander the seas for years before returning home.
🧠 Archetypal & Esoteric Meaning
Poseidon isn't just a sea god—he's also a deep symbol of emotion, instinct, chaos, and primal power:
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Represents the subconscious, like the ocean—vast, mysterious, uncontrollable
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The divine masculine in its untamed form
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A Jungian symbol for emotional depth, power surges, and even psychic storms
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Often seen as rival to gods of intellect or order (like Athena)
