Who's Who Greek Myth: Poseidon God of the sea, all waters and Earthquakes

Poseidon was said by Homer to have been given this realm when his father Kronos divided the the world between his three sons. Zeus was given the sky and Hades the underworld, the earth and Olympus shared by all three.

The trident was Podeidon's symbol and weapon. God of storms (and hence responsible for shipwrecks), he was also the protector of fishermen.

Though he shared a palace on Olympus with the other gods, he had his own palace in the depths of the Aegean where he dwelled with his wife Amphitrite. Despite his role as god of the sea, he was also associated with earthquakes.

He was also called 'Asphaleion', or safety/stability, and appealed to in times when earthquakes threatened that stability. Another of his names was 'Ippios' (horse) or Petraios, and the horse, sacred to him, was considered his offspring.

His neice, Athena, however, was credited with the invention of the ship, reins and bridle, reflecting the conflict between these two for control of Athens, the supremacy of Athena related to the superiority of mental and technical powers over those of natural forces such as tempest and earthquake.

Poseidon shared the amorous nature of his brother Zeus, also fathering many children, including the Cyclops Polyphemus, and the winged horse, Pegasus (result of his mating with the gorgon, Medusa).

Though he aided in the destruction of Troy, he harassed Odysseus relentlessly on his return home. His temple at Sounion (for which is peninsula south of Athens is named) is well known; others were at Isthmia, Poros, Mykale in Asia Minor, and an oracle at Cape Tenaro.