Deity

Poseidon

God of the sea, who hounds Odysseus after the blinding of his son.

MythWeave AI-generated editorial illustration, portrait v2

Overview

Poseidon is a son of Cronus and Rhea as well as god of the sea and the shaking earth. The Theogony first numbers him among the six siblings swallowed by their father and later released in the succession reversal, placing the powerful sea ruler of the Odyssey within the transfer of Olympian power. In the homecoming story he becomes the most sustained opposition after Odysseus blinds his son Polyphemus. Poseidon cannot wholly overturn the return allowed by Zeus, but storms, drift and maritime danger change its timing and cost. He also punishes the Phaeacian ship that carries Odysseus home, showing that aid to a voyager can carry consequences under the sea god's rule. The Bibliotheca gives him the sea by lot after the war, while the hymn lists him as a suitor whom Hestia rejects. Neither context is a basis for a universal Twelve Olympians roster. The later Bibliotheca gives him the sea by lot after the war, while the hymn lists him as a suitor whom Hestia rejects. Neither context is evidence for a universal Twelve Olympians roster. In Pseudo-Apollodorus’ Titanomachy account, as one of the released siblings he receives the Cyclopes’ trident; the ancient passage gives him no separate combat feat.

Key facts

Fatherhood and the prayer for revenge

Once Polyphemus learns the attacker's name, he asks his father to make Odysseus return late, alone and to trouble at home if return is fated.

The storm after Ogygia

Seeing Odysseus leave on a raft, Poseidon gathers winds and waves, wrecks the craft and forces him to swim toward Phaeacia.

The Cyclopes' trident

Pseudo-Apollodoran account

Pseudo-Apollodorus says the Cyclopes give Poseidon the trident.

Sea received by lot

Pseudo-Apollodoran account

Pseudo-Apollodorus says Poseidon receives the sea in the brothers' drawing of lots.

Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.

Relationships

Polyphemusfather of
Polyphemus calls on his father Poseidon for vengeance.
Odysseuspersecutes
Poseidon prolongs the wanderings after Polyphemus is harmed.
Alcinouspunishes aid
Poseidon punishes the Phaeacian ship for carrying Odysseus home.
Poseidon's Stormraises
Poseidon spots Odysseus at sea and raises the storm.
Blinding of Polyphemusprovokes
Polyphemus' prayer brings Poseidon's wrath upon the voyage.
Poseidon's Stormcauses
The sea god gathers winds and waves to break the raft.
Rheamother of
Rhea is the mother of Poseidon.
Cronusfather of
Cronus is the father of Poseidon.
The Swallowing of the Childrenis swallowed in
Poseidon is swallowed by Cronus after his birth.
Cyclopesgive the trident
In Pseudo-Apollodorus, the Cyclopes give Poseidon the trident.
Olympian Orderreceives the sea by lot
The later Bibliotheca says Poseidon receives the sea by lot.
Hestiaseeks marriage
The hymn says Poseidon seeks marriage with Hestia.
Hestiasiblings
Poseidon and Hestia are both children of Cronus and Rhea.

Story appearances

The Odyssey HomecomingSea god who obstructs the return
Answering his son's prayer, Poseidon delays Odysseus through wandering and storm.
Birth of the GodsSwallowed divine sibling
The sea god of the proem is placed in the family as a son of Rhea and Cronus, swallowed and then released by the succession reversal.
The TitanomachyReleased sibling and later-version weapon recipient
Released sibling and later-version weapon recipient within the struggle between the older Titans and Zeus' side.
Olympian OrderRecipient of the sea within Olympian power
Recipient of the sea within Olympian power within the family, honours or council order that follows Zeus' victory.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

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