It is common in Indo-European religions for horses to be tied to springs, rivers, and the movement of water. For his many roles and his importance in the patheon, Poseidon was one of the gods who was most often credited as the patron or ancestor of a city. In at least two of these cases, at Athens and Corinth, Poseidon competed for another god for patronage of the city. Even when he was not a patron or ancestor, Poseidon was often a central figure in the founding of a city.
It was traditional for new colonies to be established with water from their home city, and the first sacrifices made were to Poseidon for providing this sacred water and ensuring safe passage to their new land. With these many roles, there was reason for everyone in the Greek world to worship Poseidon. Sailors, merchants, and fishermen prayed to him for calm seas while Greeks who lived further from the coast hoped to prevent natural disasters.
Poseidon was one of the most widely-revered patrons and protectors of the Greek world because his role in its religion encompassed so many of the gifts, hazards, and necessities that were universal to its people.
As the god of the sea, Poseidon was worshipped by the people who lived and worked both on the water and along the coast. Sailors and fishermen prayed to Poseidon daily for safety and prosperity. In the seismically active Eastern Mediterranean, people worshipped him constantly to prevent the earthquakes he was believed to have caused.
Poseidon was also the creator of horses. Both because of his importance and to add to it, Poseidon was also considered the patron or ancestor of many Greek cities and colonies.
In those places, he was revered as the local benefactor who protected the people and made them prosperous. Whether to bring safety and wealth or to avoid natural disasters, the god of the sea was a central member of the pantheon.
Virtually everyone in Greece had many reasons to worship Poseidon. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember too long! I have been in love with all things related to Mythology.
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See more Encyclopedia articles on: Ancient Religion. Enter your search terms:. After the fall of the Titans , Poseidon was allotted the sea. He was worshiped especially in connection with navigation; but as the god of fresh waters he also was worshiped as a fertility god.
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