Roman Ceres
Demeter
Goddess of the Harvest, Grain & Agriculture
The giver of grain and the fertile earth, whose grief for her lost daughter Persephone brought the first winter.
- Sheaf of wheat
- Torch
- Cornucopia
Lord of the sea
When the sons of Cronus divided the world, Poseidon drew the sea. He lived in a golden palace beneath the waves and rode a chariot drawn by horses that skimmed the water. With a blow of his trident he could raise storms, summon springs from rock or make the ground tremble, which is why the Greeks called him the Earth-shaker.
A temperamental god
Poseidon competed with other gods for the patronage of cities. In the contest for Athens he struck the Acropolis and produced a saltwater spring, but Athena offered the olive tree and won. He was a dangerous enemy: when Odysseus blinded his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon kept the hero from home for ten years.
Key myths
- The contest with Athena for Athens
- His long grudge against Odysseus
- The creation of the horse
- Building the walls of Troy with Apollo for King Laomedon
Worship
Sailors and fishermen prayed to him before every voyage. His marble temple on the cliffs of Cape Sounion, built around 440 BC, still looks out over the Aegean, and the Isthmian Games near Corinth were held in his honour.
Epithets
The Greeks called on their gods by many titles, each one a different side of their power.
- Enosichthon, earth-shaker
- Hippios, of horses
- Asphaleios, the securer
- Pelagios, of the open sea
Keep exploring
More gods of the pantheon
- Roman Minerva
Athena
Goddess of Wisdom, Warfare & Crafts
Born fully armed from the head of Zeus, the goddess of wisdom, strategy and skilled crafts, and the protector of Athens.
- Aegis
- Spear
- Helmet
- Roman Apollo
Apollo
God of Light, Music, Prophecy & Healing
The radiant god of music, poetry, prophecy, healing and light, twin brother of Artemis and master of the oracle at Delphi.
- Lyre
- Laurel wreath
- Silver bow
