Poseidon (Greek Mythology) - Summary

This is a learning module about the mythological story and background of the God Poseidon. It also includes a short summary of the Love Interest of Poseidon.

1. Poseidon (Greek Mythology) – Summary






















Poseidon was one of the Twelve Olympians in the Greek Mythology. He was the God of the Sea,
Storms, Earthquakes and Horses. He was also the protectors of all seafarers. The Greeks usually worship
him to have a calm sea, and if he was ignored or neglected, he can cause chaotic earthquakes, shipwrecks
or drowning.

He was the second son born of Cronus and Rhea, but he was swallowed by his own father, only to
be saved by his youngest brother, Zeus. When Zeus deposed their father, he and his brothers divided the
empire of his father. He chose the underwater world, because it is full of adventures and mystery.

Courtship with Thetis
Thetis, a sea-nymph, was chosen by Poseidon to be his queen in his underwater kingdom. He was
very eager to have Thetis as his wife. However, Themis, the Goddess of Justice, have prophesied that the
child to be born from Thetis will be more powerful than his father. After knowing this, Poseidon had decided
not to take Thetis as his queen anymore.
Romance with Amphitrite
Poseidon was left sad for he does not have any queen in his kingdom. He then saw a beautiful
Nereid or water nymph named Amphitrite. He quickly fell in love with her. To impress her, Poseidon created
sea creatures, such as octopus, squid, sea cow, jelly fish, puffer fish or blowfish, swordfish, and many

2. others. Amphitrite became the queen of the kingdom of Poseidon. They had two children: Triton, a merman
and the Messenger of the Sea, and Rhodos, a goddess of the Rhodes Island and became the wife of Helios
– the Sun God.
Love Interest with Demeter
One day, Demeter was strolling in a mountain pass, Poseidon chased her and said he love her.
Demeter does not know what to do for Poseidon was very persistent. But she said that Poseidon will make a
gift for her, a land animal, the most beautiful creature that she has ever seen. Poseidon agreed on the
request of Demeter. She knew in herself that Poseidon was only capable of creating monsters. But she was
very amazed, that Poseidon created a beautiful horse. Poseidon, himself, was very delighted in his own
creation, so he created another herd of horse.
Another story in the creation of the horse by Poseidon, states that Poseidon took a full week to
create a single horse. And after he showed it to Demeter, he created other land creatures, such as zebra,
donkey, camel, hippopotamus, elephant, giraffe, and others.
Another story is that Poseidon himself, chased Demeter. Afraid of being caught by his brother,
Demeter transformed herself into a mare, a female horse, but Poseidon transformed himself into a stallion, a
male horse. Demeter hid herself in the herd of Arkadian Onkios. Then they had two offsprings namely Arion,
a wild horse that could speak, and Despoena, a nymph and the goddess of mysteries.
Rivalry between Poseidon and Athena
Cecrops, the first King of Athens, had to find a God who will represent the city. Two of the Olympian
Gods who are willing to be the representative are Poseidon, and his niece, Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.
Cecrops asked them to offer a gift, and the God that will offer the most valuable gift for the city will be the
representative of the whole city. Poseidon was the first one to offer a gift. He used his trident to struck the
hillside near the Acropolis and immediately water sprout out the land, but the water sprout was actually salty
and it is not a valuable resource for the population. It was the turn of Athena, she kneel down, and planted
an olive tree, and using her power, the tree suddenly grow high as a symbol of peace. Cecrops and the
citizens were very much amazed. So Cecrops decided that Athena will be the representative of the land,
naming the city after her.
Affair with Thoosa
Thoosa, was a sea-nymph associated with swiftness. When Poseidon saw her, he was very much
attracted to her. Their affair bore a child named Polyphemus, a gigantic one-eyed Cyclops.