But she straightway conceived Pallas Athene: and the father of men and gods gave her birth by way of his head on the banks of the river Trito. ![]() But he seized her with his hands and put her in his belly, for fear that she might bring forth something stronger than his thunderbolt: therefore did Zeus, who sits on high and dwells in the aether, swallow her down suddenly. deceiving Metis (Thought) although she was full wise. "Zeus lay with the fair-cheeked daughter of Okeanos and Tethys apart from Hera ((lacuna)). But Zeus put her into his own belly first, that the goddess might devise for him both good and evil." For they advised him so, to the end that no other should hold royal sway over the eternal gods in place of Zeus for very wise children were destined to be born of her, first the maiden bright-eyed Tritogeneia, equal to her father in strength and in wise understanding but afterwards she was to bear a son of overbearing spirit, king of gods and men. But when she was about to bring forth the goddess bright-eyed Athene, Zeus craftily deceived her with cunning words and put her in his own belly, as Gaia (Earth) and starry Ouranos (Heaven) advised. "Now Zeus, king of the gods, made Metis (Wise Counsel) his wife first, and she was wisest among gods and mortal men. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : This page contains tales of the goddess from the sagas of the gods including her birth, death of Pallas, War of the Giants, creation of Pandora, contest with Poseidon for Athens, birth of Erikhthonios (Erichthonius), and flute of Marsyas.ĬLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES THE BIRTH OF ATHENA I. I was surprised to also learn that the Isthmian Games, similar to the Olympic Games, were held in Poseidon’s honor.Minerva The birth of Athena, Athenian black-figure kylix C6th B.C., British MuseumĪTHENA was the Olympian goddess of wisdom, war, heroism and crafts. Thanos also told me Poseidon was worshipped at the Isthmos sanctuary at the base of Corinth. Poseidon had his own temple at Sounion on the southeastern edge of the mainland, where we were headed. I learned from Thanos that although Poseidon was honored in many different venues, he was still jealous of Zeus. The name “Posidea” on the temple implies the existence of an ancient festival in his honor. On the Acropolis, part of the Erectheion Temple was dedicated to him. ![]() In a quick reversal, the Athenian judges decided to honor Poseidon, as well. In a rage, Poseidon marched off and flooded the countryside around Athens. The Athenian judges got together and decided that Athena’s gift was more useful to the city, so they granted her the honors. Not to be outdone, Athena planted an olive tree nearby, and it quickly bore olives in abundance. Trying to convince the Athenians to worship him as their primary god, Poseidon struck the earth with his trident and a spring of seawater gushed out of the top of the Acropolis. His most famous dispute was with the goddess Athena for possession of the city of Athens. Even though Poseidon lost the battle for kingship, he never stopped trying to win over at least portions of the earth. ![]() ![]() He managed to tie Zeus down, but Briareus, leader of the Hundred-Handed Monsters of the Underworld, rescued him. This did not sit well with the jealous Poseidon! He tried to overthrow his brother. Zeus was also given the title King of Gods. Poseidon drew the sea, Zeus got the Heavens and Hades received the Underworld. (photo of temple) Poseidon’s reputation as a moody and violent god of the sea gave him a special significance for the sea-faring Greeks.Īccording to the myth, after Poseidon and his brothers Zeus and Hades had defeated the giant Titans for control of the universe, they drew lots to see what kingdom each would rule. My student, Thanos, taught me the mythology behind Poseidon the day we drove to the edge of the mainland southeast of Athens, to the Temple dedicated to Poseidon. Photo of Temple of Poseidon in Antiquity.
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