Greek bronze sculpture depicting the god Poseidon. "Poseidon Soter at Artemisium" (c. 575 B.C.). The statue was found in the Aegean Sea in 1926.
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Image courtesy of the National Archaelogical Museum at Athens, Greece. Greek Ministry of Culture-Archaeological Receipt Fund. (c) Greek Ministry of Culture.

Poseidon

Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea and earthquakes. Poseidon was depicted as a bearded man with long hair, holding a trident and accompanied by dolphins and fish. He had the reputation for having a very bad temper. The symbol of Poseidon's power was the three pronged spear known as the trident.

The storms and earthquakes were a reflection of his furious rage. When he was angry, he split mountains and threw them into the sea to make islands. Poseidon was the brother of Zeus and Hades. He married Amphitrite who was one of his attendants, the Nereids. The Greek god Poseidon was known to the Romans by the name of Neptune.

Poseidon is ever present in the story of Odysseus, the famous Greek hero. On the island of the cyclopes, Odysseus blinded Polyphemus, Poseidon's son. The sea god brought on fierce storms and creatures for revenge, but each time Odysseus survived. After many years, Odysseus planted an oar and made a shrine to Poseidon to appease him.

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