Greek Mythology Community

Poseidon’s role beyond the sea?

1 - 2 of 2 Posts
V

voula_slat

Active member
We all know Poseidon as the god of the sea, storms, and earthquakes — trident in hand, stirring the oceans. But I’ve recently come across references suggesting his influence went far beyond just water. For instance, he was also known as the "Earth-shaker" and linked to horses and even fertility in older, pre-Olympian traditions.

This got me wondering: how much of Poseidon's identity was tied to older Earth-based worship? Was his role as a sea god a later evolution? I've also read that in some regions, he was considered a chthonic deity — tied to the underworld or the land itself.

Do you see him as more of a primal force of nature rather than just the god of the sea? And what do you make of his association with horses? Would love to hear how others interpret Poseidon's deeper role in the mythology!
 
ou’re absolutely right — Poseidon’s identity goes far beyond the sea. In Mycenaean times, his name appears in Linear B tablets as Po-se-da-o-ne, and he may have been a primary god of earthquakes and the land before becoming chiefly associated with the ocean. His “Earth-shaker” title reflects this older role, hinting at a deep, elemental power tied to tectonic forces.

The horse connection likely comes from his role as a fertility and chthonic deity — horses were prestige animals, linked to strength, speed, and the life force. Myths about him creating the first horse or fathering winged creatures like Pegasus show how this aspect persisted even after his sea-god prominence grew.

I tend to see him as a primal force of untamed nature — ruling over shifting earth, surging waters, and raw vitality. The sea might just be one facet of his vast, unpredictable, and deeply ancient power.
 
1 - 2 of 2 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Which Olympian god would you most want to meet?

If you could meet one of the Olympian gods from Greek mythology, which one would you choose? I think this is a difficult question because so many of them would be fascinating to talk to, although some would definitely be safer choices than others!

Athena would probably be near the top of my list. I’d love to hear her thoughts on wisdom, strategy, warfare, and the way humans make decisions. Hermes would also be interesting because of his connection with travel, communication, cleverness, and his role as a messenger between different worlds.

Apollo might be another good choice because of his associations with music, prophecy, healing, and the arts. On the other hand, meeting Zeus or Poseidon could be a little intimidating.

Which Olympian god or goddess would you most want to meet, and why? What would you want to ask them if you had the chance?

What is the symbolism behind Medusa?

I’m Greek, but I feel like I only ever heard the surface version of Medusa growing up, the “monster with snakes for hair who turns people to stone.” Lately I’ve been seeing people talk about her in a completely different way, more symbolic than literal, and now I’m curious what the deeper meaning actually is.

Was she always meant to be a monster, or is there more to her story? I’ve also heard that in some versions, she wasn’t originally a monster at all, which changes how you look at everything.

Is Medusa meant to represent danger, protection, transformation… something else entirely? And how did ancient Greeks view her compared to how we interpret her now?

I’d really love to understand this from a more cultural and mythological perspective, not just the simplified version most of us grew up with.

Favorite Greek hero and why?

I’ve been spending more time lately reading Greek mythology, and I keep coming back to how different the heroes are from one another. Some rely on strength, others on intelligence, and some seem almost defined by their flaws as much as their accomplishments. It makes the stories feel more human than I expected.

Personally, I find characters like Odysseus interesting because of the strategy and endurance involved, but I can also see the appeal of someone like Heracles with the raw physical trials. Achilles is another one who’s hard to ignore because of the intensity and tragedy built into his story.

I’m curious which Greek hero stands out most to others and what draws you to them. Is it their personality, their achievements, or the story itself?

Which Greek myth feels most relevant to modern life?

I am curious, which Greek myths feel the most relevant to you in modern life? I’ve been thinking about this lately and I’m curious how others see it.

For me, the myth that feels most relevant right now is Narcissus. The focus on reflection, self-image, and the need for validation feels very familiar in a world shaped by social media. So much of modern life revolves around how we look, how we’re perceived, and how much attention or approval we receive.

The story feels less about vanity and more about becoming absorbed in an image and losing real connection in the process. That idea seems especially timely.

What about you? Which Greek myth feels most relevant to modern life, and what makes it stand out to you today?

Apollo and Artemis Personality Contrasts

I’ve always been fascinated by Apollo and Artemis, especially the contrast between them as twins. On the surface they share so much, archery, associations with youth, strong connections to nature, but symbolically they seem almost like opposites in some ways. Apollo often represents order, reason, light, music, and prophecy, while Artemis feels more wild, instinctive, independent, and tied to the untamed natural world.

I’m curious how others interpret their relationship and balance. Do you see them as complementary forces, like civilization and wilderness, or more as two expressions of similar divine energy? And are there specific myths that you think best highlight their differences or similarities?

I’d love to hear perspectives, especially from people who study mythology more deeply or look at the symbolic meanings behind the gods.
Share and discuss Greek mythology!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top