Parents: Cronus and Rhea

Birth: Poseidon was swallowed by his father Cronus at birth along with his siblings. He was freed when Zeus gave Cronus a potion that forced him to release his children. In some versions of the myth, Poseidon was also hidden away from Cronus, but instead of being raised by nymphs like Zeus, he was hidden among a herd of loud sheep!

Story: Poseidon ruled the seas and was one of the most powerful gods on Olympus. He carried a mighty trident that could shake the earth, summon storms, and shatter anything in its path — earning him the title "Earth-Shaker." Poseidon famously competed with Athena for the city of Athens. He struck the ground and produced a saltwater spring, but Athena offered an olive tree, and the people chose her gift. Poseidon was known for his volatile temper, and sailors prayed to him before every voyage.

Poseidon and Odysseus: One of Poseidon's most famous grudges was against the hero Odysseus. After the Trojan War, Odysseus blinded Poseidon's son Polyphemus, a giant Cyclops, by driving a burning stake into his eye to escape his cave. When Polyphemus prayed to his father for revenge, Poseidon was furious. He cursed Odysseus to wander the seas for ten long years, sending endless storms, shipwrecks, and disasters to keep him from reaching home. Every time Odysseus got close to the shores of Ithaca, Poseidon would blow him off course again. It was only through the help of Athena and the will of Zeus that Odysseus finally made it home to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.

The Creation of Horses: Poseidon was credited with creating the first horse. According to myth, when he competed with Athena for Athens, one version says he struck the ground and the first horse sprang forth. Horses were sacred to Poseidon, and he was often worshipped at horse races. The winged horse Pegasus was his son, born from Medusa. Poseidon could also take the form of a horse himself — he did so when pursuing the goddess Demeter, and their union produced the divine horse Arion, who could speak and run faster than any other horse in existence.

The Walls of Troy: Poseidon and Apollo were once punished by Zeus and forced to serve the mortal King Laomedon of Troy. Together they built the mighty walls of Troy, which were said to be impenetrable. But when Laomedon refused to pay them for their work, Poseidon sent a terrible sea monster to ravage the coast of Troy. This betrayal was one of the reasons Poseidon sided against Troy during the Trojan War, eager to see the city and its ungrateful rulers destroyed.

Symbol: Trident, horse, dolphin, bull.

Represents: The sea, earthquakes, storms, and horses.