Classical Studies 2200 Lecture 8: Poseidon, Athena, Artemis
16 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Poseidon/Neptune
Poseidon/Poteidaon
o The name invites linguistic decipherment
o Variations on both Poseidon and Poteidon are found in Greek
o Potei (“lord”) + da (“earth”?)
o Posei (“drink”) + da (by-form of Zeus?)
- Zeus in the water
A Fresh-Water Fertility God?
o Associated with springs (rather than rivers/oceans)
- Created them by striking earth with trident or
even spilling semen on the earth
- Could even create a horse this way
- Ex. Hippocrene
o Poseidon hippios
- Closely associated with the horse
- The horse is a fertility symbol?
God of the Sea
o Part of an original allotment to the three sons of Cronus:
- Zeus: sky
- Poseidon: the sea
- Hades: The Underworld
- The Earth and Mt. Olympus were common
o Temples frequently located by the sea
o Regarded as the helper of fishermen
o Also, associated with the dangerous powers of the sea (storms, etc.)
o Earth-shaker
- 2nd most common
- No direct evidence in Greece that the earth floats on water
2
▪ Earthquakes = who controls water = poseidon
- When earthquake comes, people sing to him
o Associated with earthquakes
o Represent (with Zeus) the terrifying powers of the world
o Invoked as asphaleios (steadfastness) and gaieochos (holder of earth)
o A violent mythic lover
- Amphitrite is his jealous/homicidal wife (cf. Hera)
- Scylla
▪ Beautiful, young, loved by Poseidon
▪ Amphitrite poisoned the water she drank out of and she becomes an
evil ship eating monster
▪ Linked with Charybdis (d. of Poseidon and Ge)
- Connection with Athens and Attica
▪ Cape Sounion
❖ Represents something special to the classical Athenian
imagination
▪ Competition with Athena for the ruler of Athens
❖ Poseidon → salt-water spring
❖ Athena → olive tree
Athena/Minerva
Name: Athene/Athenaie
o Goddess of battle strategy and wisdom
o Suggests a connection with the city of Athens
o Named with two things: Pallas Athena
- Possibilities:
▪ She who shakes weapons?
▪ Maiden? → virginal goddess
o Linear B has atana potiniya (“Mistress of Atana”)
3
Birth Myth
o Born from the head of Zeus
o In Hesiod, this follows Zeus’ swallowing of Metis, but other versions make no
mention of Metis
o In some versions, Hephaestus splits Zeus’ head open with an axe
o Why the head?
- Connected with wisdom and intelligence
- Problem: doesn’t take account the ancient notions of physiology
▪ They thought the head was a repository of seamen
▪ Male god bearing a child seemed odd
Attributes and Sphere of Influence
o A city goddess
- Her temple was usually situated on the acropolis of the city
- Palladion at Troy (was taken, once it was removed the city was venerable
and could fall)
- Connected with early Athenian kings
▪ Erichthonius
o A Warlike goddess
- Athena was born fully armed
▪ “... Athena, dread, battle-rouser, army leader, indefatigable, queenly,
who delights in din and wars and battles” (Hesiod)
- Inspires fear, even in other gods
- Important near eastern connections (Ishtar, Anut)
- Active in battles in the Iliad
- Carries the aegis
▪ Athena’s symbol
▪ It can strike fear into the hearts of enemies
▪ Properly a goat-skin shield, but in myth it is made from the Gorgon
Athena as a Patron of Heroes
Document Summary
Poseidon/poteidaon: the name invites linguistic decipherment, variations on both poseidon and poteidon are found in greek, potei (cid:894)(cid:862)lord(cid:863)(cid:895) + da (cid:894)(cid:862)earth(cid:863)? (cid:895, posei (cid:894)(cid:862)dri(cid:374)k(cid:863)(cid:895) + da (cid:894)(cid:271)(cid:455)-form of zeus?) A fresh-water fertility god: associated with springs (rather than rivers/oceans) Created them by striking earth with trident or even spilling semen on the earth. Could even create a horse this way. God of the sea: part of an original allotment to the three sons of cronus: Olympus were common: temples frequently located by the sea, regarded as the helper of fishermen, also, associated with the dangerous powers of the sea (storms, etc. , earth-shaker. No direct evidence in greece that the earth floats on water: earthquakes = who controls water = poseidon. When earthquake comes, people sing to him: associated with earthquakes, represent (with zeus) the terrifying powers of the world, invoked as asphaleios (steadfastness) and gaieochos (holder of earth, a violent mythic lover.
