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HANTOUR How Would You Evaluate Poseidon in Greek Mythology?

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HANTOUR How Would You Evaluate Poseidon in Greek Mythology?

Poseidon holds a position in Greek mythology second only to Zeus.
The Sea King, Zeus’s brother, protector of Atlantis… all are epithets of Poseidon.

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Some people develop an interest in Greek mythology because of Saint Seiya; others are drawn to Poseidon because they love the ocean; some admire him as the guardian deity of Pisces; some became intrigued by Poseidon after watching “Aquaman”; and some are fascinated by Atlantis…

Personally, I find Poseidon’s allure lies in his tumultuous rivalry with Zeus, his domineering yet passionate nature in love, and his unpredictable temperament…

1. The Chaotic, Love-Hate Relationship Between Poseidon and Zeus
The oldest Greek myths evolved from numerous epic poems, and what people relish most are the gods’ struggles against one another and their tangled relationships.
The second generation of gods—Cronus and Rhea—gave birth to six children. Poseidon was the fifth, and Zeus was the sixth.

Legend has it that Poseidon was actually the first male child born to Cronus; he should have been the eldest son, but because he was swallowed at birth, he lost that status. Later, the grown Zeus rescued him, forcing him to cede the birth order.

When the time came for war against their father Cronus, Zeus, with the help of Poseidon and Hades, secured victory. On the advice of Prometheus, the three brothers drew lots to decide dominion over the realms. Zeus became lord of the sky, ruling over Olympus; Poseidon became god of the sea; and Hades became ruler of the Underworld. In simple terms, Zeus was first among them—god of the heavens—Poseidon was second—the sea god—and Hades third—the god of the dead.

But the relationship between Zeus and Poseidon did not end with a mere power-sharing agreement. Poseidon harbored ambitions to conquer more lands and expand his authority.

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Zeus would occasionally boast that he would drag the oceans up into the sky, which was unbearable for Poseidon.
After outwardly showing obedience to Zeus for a time, Hera, Poseidon, and Athena rebelled and attempted to overthrow Zeus. However, the rebellion ended in failure.
In Homer’s Iliad, there is a scene where Zeus binds and lashes Hera—this punishment was imposed after the failed uprising.
It is said that Hera’s cries of agony moved even the other gods to pity, yet no one dared beg Zeus for mercy.
Poseidon’s punishment, on the other hand, was to be exiled to the mortal realm.
Athena received no punishment at all, because Zeus believed she had been incited by the others and that the rebellion was not truly her intent. One must admit, Zeus was very partial to Athena. He severely punished his wife and his brother, but his daughter remained unscathed.

2. The Tycoon-Style Romance—A Mythical “Possession”?
Greek mythology is infamous for its tangled relationships and complex emotional entanglements.
In Greek religion, gods and mortals share the same nature, complete with passions and desires.
As ruler of the vast seas, Poseidon possessed emotions as abundant and changeable as the ocean itself. He pursued love with a fierce, all-consuming devotion.
Upon first sight of Amphitrite, Poseidon fell instantly in love and made a sudden advance. Terrified, Amphitrite fled to the ocean depths. Poseidon sent a dolphin to pursue her, and after becoming exhausted, Amphitrite could do nothing but climb onto the dolphin’s back—thus becoming Poseidon’s wife.
Poseidon also transformed into a horse to force himself upon Demeter and Medusa.
Beyond these examples, Poseidon seized many other women by force. One might call it a mythological version of “possession.”

3. The Moody Lord of the Deep—His Trident That Whips Up World-Standing Waves
If Zeus is capricious, then Poseidon is tempestuous—like ever-shifting ocean currents.
When Poseidon drives his golden chariot across the sea, the waters calm, dolphins follow, and everything is peaceful.
In such moments, Poseidon embodies divine benevolence.
Ancient Greek fishermen and sailors would pray at Poseidon’s temple before setting sail.
But when Poseidon was displeased, he could unleash tsunamis or even summon sea monsters.
After losing the contest for patronage of the city to Athena, Poseidon, in his fury, raised a tremendous tsunami to drown the city—only Zeus’s intervention brought the disaster to an end.

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4. Poseidon and Neptune: Enlightenment of Sensibility and Intuition
Mythology suggests that the heroic journeys of the gods mirror the inner life journeys that each of us experiences in our own lives. Greek mythology, in particular, represents the narrative history of early human existence. When we engage with these myths, we do more than observe the interactions among gods or between gods and humans—we come to understand that each of us is a god bearing human nature.

Through the messages carried by these mythic tales, we are guided to perceive infinite possibilities beyond our everyday world, and even move closer to divinity.

In 1843, Neptune (the planet) was discovered by humans through mathematical prediction. This ocean-blue world was named after Poseidon’s Latin name. At the time of its discovery, its blue hue had not yet been observed. Furthermore, Neptune’s astronomical symbol is Poseidon’s trident.

This seems like a wondrous echo between astronomy and mythology. Incidentally, one of the hallmarks of Atlantis—created by Poseidon—was its highly advanced knowledge of astronomy and physics.
Poseidon is a person of intense feeling and intuition, and Neptune’s energy embodies sensitivity and idealism.
Poseidon governs everything related to the sea. In real life, anything associated with water also symbolizes our emotional side.
Neptune teaches us compassion and empathy, allowing us to sense others’ emotions and develop deeper intuition about things. More importantly, it reminds us to honor those intuitive feelings and emotional insights.

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Just like in Aquaman, the protagonist must bravely dive into the deep sea to reach the Trench Kingdom and seize the trident to become the King of the Sea.

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Let your emotions flow, clear away negative energy, gather positive energy, and even transform it into art… this is the insight that Poseidon as a mythological symbol—and Neptune, named after him—brings to us.

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