Poseidon
by CTCWeb Editors
Was Poseidon A Loser?
Poseidon lost the control over the sky to his brother, Zeus. Poseidon was slow on the draw and lost Athens to Athena. Was Poseidon a loser? Were there aspects of the sea-god that failed to live up to the Greek ideals of Zeus and Athena?
Students should look closely at Poseidon’s losses and just what caused his misfortunes and missed opportunities. Below is a list of citations with which to begin as investigation.
Apollodorus 1.2.1 - Poseidon draws lots for control of the sky, sea and the Underworld with Hades and Zeus.
Apollodorus 2.1.4 - Poseidon dried up Argos because he was angry that Inachus had testified that the land belonged to Hera. Apollodorus Note 3.14.1.b - “The unlucky Poseidon also contested the possession of Argos with Hera, and when the judges gave a verdict against him and in favour of the goddess, he took his revenge, as in Attica, by flooding the country.”
Pausanias 2.15.5, 2.22.4.
Parthenon, West Pediment - The pediment represents Athena’s struggle with Poseidon over the patronage of Attica. The pediment is described and explained by Pausanias, 1.24.5.
Historical Overview, 9.4.7 The Significance of the Parthenon Frieze - This passage discusses the Parthenon frieze and the depiction of the strife between Poseidon and Athena for control of Athens.
Apollodorus 3.14.1 - Poseidon may have been the first come to Attica. He produced a sea called “Erechtheis” by striking the acropolis with his trident.
Apollodorus Note 3.14.1.b - This note relates the story of how the citizens of Athens voted for either Athena or Poseidon for their patron or patroness.
Herodotus 8.51.1, 8.55.1 - Herodotus describes the tradition of the olive tree and salt water spring as they were attributed to the contest between Athena and Poseidon.
Isocrates, Speech 12, section 193 - “For our country was invaded by the Thracians, led by Eumolpus, son of Poseidon, who disputed the possession of Athens with Erechtheus, alleging, that Poseidon had appropriated the city before Athena”
Pausanias 1.24.5 - Pausanias describes the pediment that represents Athena’s struggle with Poseidon over the patronage of Attica.
Pausanias 1.26.5 - A trident appears on a rock as evidence of Poseidon’s claim to Attica.
Plutarch Themistocles 19.3 - Plutarch describes how Athena displayed the olive tree while contending with Poseidon for the patronage of Attica.
Apollodorus 3.14.2 - In attempting to violate Alcippe, Poseidon’s son, Halirrhothius, was foiled by Ares. Poseidon, in turn, attempted to impeach Ares before in the Areopagus the twelve gods and judges. Ares was acquitted.
Demosthenes, Speech 23.66 - Demosthenes uses the judication of Ares by the Areopagus as an example of proceedings in by the council of twelve.
Dinarchus, Speech 1: Against Demosthenes, section 87 - Dinarchus mentions the loss of Poseidon’s suit against Ares and Poseidon’s obedience of the decision.
Pausanias 2.1.6 - Briareos arbitrated a land dispute between Poseidon and Helius. Briareos decided in favor of Poseidon, “assigning to Poseidon the Isthmus and the parts adjoining, and giving to Helius the height above the city.”
Homer, Odyssey 1.74 - The gods decide that Poseidon must put aside his anger towards Odysseus and allow his return home. Poseidon is not able to go against all the gods and their desires alone. Pindar, Isthmian 8.27-31 - Zeus and Poseidon contended for the hand of Thetis. They both gave up their pursuit upon learning that Thetis’ son would be mightier that his father.
