GREEK ROMAN GOD OF SEAS TREMORS POSEIDON NEPTUNE ON THRONE SCULPTURE FIGURINE

In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the god of the sea, as well as of horses and, as "Earth-Shaker," of earthquakes. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology; both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon. Poseidon was a major civic god of several cities: in Athens, he was second only to Athena in importance; while in Corinth and many cities of Magna Graecia he was the chief god of the polis. In his benign aspect, Poseidon was seen as creating new islands and offering calm seas. When offended or ignored, he supposedly struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks. In the Odyssey Poseidon's grudge against the protagonist prevented him from coming home to Ithaca. Sailors prayed to Poseidon for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice.