by Tim Harry

Created on: March 08, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2011

Poseidon, brother to Zeus, and one of the major Olympian gods of Ancient Greece, could be considered simply as an ancient god from a long dead religion, and yet his image, as god of the sea, is still a potent one.

The majority of stories about his birth tell of Poseidon being the son of the Titan's Cronus and Rhea. This parentage makes him the brother to Hestia, Demeter, Hera,

Hades and Zeus. Upon his birth Poseidon was swallowed by his father. This act was undertaken by Cronus to prevent the completion of a prophecy with stated that one of his offspring would one take dethrone him.

Zeus would have followed Poseidon into the stomach of Cronus, but his mother, Rhea, substituted a stone wrapped in baby clothes. Zeus grew up safely on Crete. When he came of age Zeus returned to the land of Cronus, tricking him into taking a potion that forced the regurgitation of Zeus' siblings, Poseidon included.

Less common stories are also told of Poseidon's birth. In these Poseidon was not swallowed, instead Rhea gave Cronus a horse to swallow, swearing that she had given birth to a colt. Poseidon was sent to Rhodes to be raised by the Telchines.

In either case, Zeus returned and with the help of his siblings waged a ten year war against the Titans, the Titanomachy. Zeus released the Cyclopes and Hecatonchires from Tarterus to aid him in his rebellion. As an act of gratitude the Cyclopes made weapons for the three brothers. Zeus received the thunderbolt, Hades got the Helmet of Darkness and Poseidon was given his Trident.

Zeus and the younger gods were victorious over the Titans, and Zeus banished the majority of the Titans to Tartarus in the deepest reaches of the Underworld. The three brothers then drew lots to see which section of the cosmos they would rule. Zeus took the sky, Poseidon received the sea and Hades was left with the Underworld as his domain. The earth was to be divided amongst all of the gods.

Like his brother, Hades, whilst Poseidon was a god of Mount Olympus he spent much of his time in his domain. Beneath the waves Poseidon resided in a palace made of gems and coral. The palace was said to be in the sea near Aegae, from which he would travel, onboard his chariot.

In the early days of his reign Zeus was faced with issues of remaining in power. One of these rebellions was against the Gigante. One hundred giants formed from the blood of Uranus, they revolted under the influence of Gaea. Gaea was annoyed with Zeus for placing her other offspring, the Titans,

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