Hello, and welcome back to the history of Ancient Greece, Episode 63, The Lord of the Sea.

Poseidon was the son of Chronos and Rhea, and brother of Zeus and Hades.

According to the myth, the three brothers had the same rights concerning the division

of the world, and in order to get their portion, they drew lots.

Zeus ruled the sky, Hades got the underworld, and Poseidon became the ruler of the sea.

The earth was not included in the lots, so that all three gods enjoyed it together.

Arroman Amoze, the floor of a banquet hall, dating to the first century AD, at Zugma in

modern day Turkey, shows the three primary attributes associated with Poseidon's iconographic

tradition.

First, there are fish all around him, representing his role as the god of the sea.

In particular, the dolphin was sacred to him.

Secondly, in his hand, he is holding a trident, which is a three-pronged fishing spear.

While the trident has usually been explained as a fishing harpoon, scholars have speculated

about its possible origin as a thunder weapon, given his connection with storms at sea, or

as an Indo-European symbol of kingship.

Thirdly, he is riding on top of the waves by a chariot pulled by horses.

These creatures are constantly connected to Poseidon, which he himself created as a

gift to the inhabitants of Thessaly.

Remember, the centaurs came from this region as well.

For this reason, he was revered by charioteers and was often worshiped in festivals that included

chariot racing.

Because of his relationship with horses, he received the epithet hippios.

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