After the Olympian Gods kicked out the Titans, this crusty old seagod took charge of the waves while his brothers Zeus and Hades plumped for the earthy bits.

Feared by sailors, he can cause storms and shipwrecks with the aid of his three-pronged trident, but if he’s in a good mood he can soothe the sea to sleep.

For reasons that have so far eluded us, Poseidon the Sea God is well-known for his love of horses. Yes, you read correctly. Horses. Not fish. Not dolphins. Not even seahorses. He likes horses. Land-based galloping mammals. Without fins. It’s hard to image this burly old salt cooing over a pony, but perhaps he’s not such a bluff rugged cove as his image suggests.

He’s the father of many gods and heroes — and of course horses — including Theseus, Triton, Polyphemus, Orion and Pegasus. His wife is the reluctant Amphitrite but he still leaps from one lusty affair to the next. With Iphimedeia he produced the ill-fated Aloadae twins Otus and Ephialtes. Demeter presented him with Arion and Despoena. And so on. Sea air is obviously good for the libido. Check out his flowing beard and ruddy complexion.

Under the Romans, Poseidon was poised and ready to become Neptune.

Article last revised on September 05, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

Permissions page