POSEIDON

THEOI

POSEIDON -- God of the Sea

Aliases: Neptune, Earth-Shaker

Son of Kronus and brother of Zeus, Poseidon is king of the seas, which surround the earth of the World. His fury shakes the foundations of the land, shattering rock and opening great rents into which those who displease him plunge headlong to their deaths. Upon the seas, he stirs great storms with his trident, battering the tiny ships humans put such faith in to flinders. Fishermen and sailors revere him and beg his pardon for sailing upon his seas, but those who raise horses also pay him homage, for it was Poseidon who gave mankind the horse by spilling his seed upon the ground. For this reason, horses are offered up to him in sacrifice as well as bulls. Yet, he is not a God of ordered things — it was Athena broke horses to mortal will, showed mortals how to craft ships. When Poseidon moves, everything is changed in one great, terrible moment.

In Rome, he was Neptune — patron not only of Mare Nostrum (“our sea”) but of lakes, rivers, and springs, fresh or salt. He assumed the role occupied by the native God Consus, becoming patron of horses and horseracing under the name Neptunus Equestris.

So it was, so it remains. The sea is more massive than mortals can truly conceive of, has stood unchanged for eons. Only in the last few centuries have things begun to turn. Whaling was the first industry to truly upset the delicate balance of the oceans — now, even after it has all but ceased, over fishing continues to destroy populations of fish worldwide. Carbon sequestration has already begun to alter average oceanic salinity. For far less than this, Poseidon has annihilated cities — it is Zeus’ will that holds him back, that keeps him from obliterating the works of mortals that so offend him. Poseidon is not a subtle God, and when he finally informs humanity of his displeasure, it will almost certainly not be hard to miss.

Provinces: Guardian, Hunter, Leader

Dominions: BEASTS (Horse), EARTH, MIGHT, WATER

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