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Quote1 Arise, my brave, beautiful Namora...and Namor, proudest and most storied of my water-children...arise and gird your strength for the dark age that now befalls us...when Olympian raises arms against Olympian. Quote2
Poseidon[src]

Poseidon is a member of the Olympians, a group of humanoid beings that hail from the pocket dimension of Olympus. He was worshiped by the humans of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. He is the god of horses,[9] and the sea,[9][1] of Oceans,[2] Storm and Earthquakes,[citation needed] Patron god of Atlantis[1] He was worshiped by the Atlanteans as Father Neptune.[3]

History

Origin and Early Years[]

Cronus (Earth-616) from Incredible Hercules Vol 1 130 001

Being Eaten by Cronus

Born over ten of thousands years ago,[10] Poseidon was the oldest son of the Titans Cronus, who ruled Olympus, and Rhea. However, Cronus feared Ouranos' prophecy. Any child Rhea bore him he either imprisoned in Tartarus or by his own account ate and imprisoned in his stomach to prevent them from being a threat. First he consumed Poseidon along with his siblings Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. Appalled at the mistreatment of their children, Cronus's wife Rhea concealed her sixth pregnancy from him and secretly gave birth to Zeus. When he was grown Zeus went down into Tartarus and freed Poseidon and his siblings, who had all now grown to adulthood.[11]

Titanomachy[]

Poseidon sided with his brothers Zeus and Hades in the war between the Olympians and the Titans. He and his brothers freed their elder siblings from a prison in the dark Underworld. The Cyclopes grateful for their freedom created weapons for the three brothers. They granted Poseidon a powerful "Trident". After defeating their father, Zeus became King of Olympus and all of the gods of its pantheon, Hades was made King of the Underworld, and Poseidon was made King of the Seas.[12]

Pre-Cataclysmic Age[]

However, Poseidon often fought his relatives over patronage of lands, and eventually claimed Atlantis, where he married the goddess Cleito and fathered the first ten Atlantean kings.

Poseidon still wooed other, and seduced Medusa, priestess of Athena, causing Athena to curse Medusa's descendants.[6]

Great Cataclysm aftermaths[]

Those statements might be erroneous, due to recent revelations of Atlanteans being the extraterrestrial "Vodani".

After the Great Cataclysm, circa 18,000 BC, the people became water-breathers. Cleito remained with the city while Poseidon watched after the confused Atlanteans.

Poseidon sought a new wife, but was rejected on many occasions. Considering the nymph Thetis for a time, he then shifted towards her sister Amphitrite, who at first fled towards the Titan Atlas. She was convinced to marry him by Delphinus, the lord of the dolphins. Poseidon was devote to Amphitrite, yet fathered many more children with gods and mortals.[6]

At some point, Neptune opposed and defeated the supernatural being called Wild One, imprisoning him under a submarine structure in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.[13] Both Neptune and the Wild One remember their confrontation and their hatred for each other. Albeit Neptune was confident that the Wild One would never be unleashed again, he nonetheless kept an eye on him.[14]

Circa 8,000 BC, when the Atlanteans recreated Atlantis,[6] Poseidon became the patron god of Atlantis and the Atlanteans believed Poseidon to be responsible for the evolution of their water-breathing race, Homo mermanus 10,000 years after the Great Cataclysm.[3]

Ancient Greece[]

In 1289 B.C., his son[15] (or his descendant)[16] Pericymenus became a member of Jason's Argonauts, participating in the Quest for the Golden Fleece.[15]

Twelve Labors of Hercules[]

In 1264 B.C., Poseidon was asked along with Apollo by Laomedon, king of Troy, to built impenetrable walls around his city, but refused to pay for their services, enraging them.[17] The Monster of Poseidon captured Laomedon's daughter, who asked Hercules to save her daughter from it, promising him his herd of magical horses which could run on water in return.[17]

In 1263 B.C., when King Augeas refused to pay his due after he cleaned the Augean Stables, Hercules attacked the city, but was confronted by Poseidon and other Olympians who were worshipped in the city. Poseidon and the others backed down when defeated in battle once Athena arrived.[18]

Trojan War[]

His son Cycnus fought on the Trojan side in the Trojan War, and was the first Trojan to be killed in the war.[19]

Poseidon pitied the Argives, who were pulling back, as Zeus had favored the Trojans. Angry against Zeus, he decided to assist the Achaean host against his brothers' orders. Witnessing Ajax the Greater and Ajax the Lesser righting back to back, he rallied them, urging them to move the fight towards Hector. He tried to have Achilles (who refused to fight due to Agamemnon having insulted him) return to the battle. As the Achaeans rallied, Hector threw a spear at Teucer, who evaded it. The spear struck Amphimachus, son of Cteatus and the grandson of Poseidon, who enraged at his death. He urged Idomeneus to break the Trojans' left wing. As Nestor informed the wounded hero-kings Menelaus, Odysseus, Diomedes and Agamemnon of the Trojans' advance, Agamemnon believed that it was maybe the time to flee. His fellow kings rebuked, and Poseidon granted them all the courage to return to the fight.[20]

Odyssey[]

After the Trojan War, Odysseus attempted to return home but was prevented by the god of the sea after for blinding his son, the Cyclopes Polyphemus, he made his journey last over 10 years to return home.[21][22][23]

Battle with Set[]

Over 2,000 years ago, Atlanteans started worshiping Set. Enraged, Poseidon destroyed Set's cult and prevented him from manifesting on Earth. Poseidon later lived among the Atlanteans for a time as their protector, and left a copy of his trident with their ruler upon his departure.[24][3]

Roman Empire (146 BC–324 AD)[]

In 146 B.C., the Romans conquered Macedonia and Greece. They even adopted Olympian Gods, changing many of their names in the process.[25] Poseidon became "Neptune".[2][3][1]

Retreat from Earth[]

After many centuries, mortal worship of the Olympians faded. Zeus and the other Olympians gradually withdrew from Earth except for Poseidon, who was still honored by the Atlanteans and actively watched over Atlantis and its people, unlike many Olympians who had few or no worshippers left on Earth.[26]

20th Century[]

World War II[]

Poseidon made a few brief appearances in the 20th Century, once during World War II.[8] He also surfaced in the early 50s where he assisted the love goddess Venus quell the Fish-Men in the Pacific. He convinced the Fish-Men to return to the ocean and stop their attack on a cruise ship.[27]

Modern Age[]

In modern times, Poseidon sent Namor on a quest to reclaim his Trident in order to regain the Atlantean throne.[3] Afterward Poseidon appeared to the Atlanteans, and decreed Namor the true ruler of Atlantis.[26] Poseidon advised Namor of the true destiny of Atlantis and its people.[28] Later, Neptune healed a wounded Namor and transformed a drowning stallion into a giant seahorse.[29]

Neptune later abducted Namor from Atlantis to Hades at the behest of Zeus, as Zeus blamed the Avengers (Earth-616) for Hercules' poor physical condition.[30] However, Neptune was then forbidden to return to Earth by Zeus, despite his objections due to the Atlanteans' continued worship of him.[31]

Most recently, he, along with the other Olympians have dwelt on Earth once more, following the death of Zeus. In a weakened state, he was abducted by Hippolyta and her Amazon warriors, at the behest of Hera and Pluto, who forced him to cede his shares of the Olympus Group to them, facilitating their takeover. The Amazon princess Artume likewise forced from him the location of the Omphalos. He was rescued from Artume's clutches by Hercules, Namor, and Namora.[32][33]

Poseidon and the other Olympians came to Athens to pay respects to Hercules when he fell in battle.[34]

Attributes

Power Grid[36]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Master: Single Form of Combat:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/Multiple Types:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Virtually Indestructible:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Warp:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Superhuman (25-75 ton):Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Omniscient:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Genius

Powers

Poseidon possesses the conventional superhuman attributes of an Olympian god:

  • Superhuman Strength: Neptune is among the physically strongest of the Olympians and can lift about 70 tons without supplementing his strength with his other powers. Among the Olympians, his strength is equaled only by Ares and Pluto and is exceeded only by Zeus and Hercules.
  • Superhuman Speed: Neptune is capable of running and moving at speeds much greater than even the finest human athlete.
  • Superhuman Stamina: Neptune's body produces almost no fatigue toxins during physical activity, granting him almost limitless physical stamina. His stamina is equaled among the Olympians only by Ares, Pluto, Zeus, and Hercules.
  • Superhumanly Dense Tissue: The skin, muscle, and bone tissues of Neptune's body, like that of all Olympians, is about 3 times as dense as that of a human. This contributes, somewhat, to Neptune's superhuman strength and weight.
  • Superhuman Durability: Neptune's body is highly resistant to physical injury. He is capable of withstanding great impact forces, temperature and pressure extremes, and powerful energy blasts without sustaining injury.
  • Regenerative Healing Factor: If Neptune sustains injury, his godly life-force will enable him to recover with superhuman levels of speed and efficiency. However, he is incapable of regenerating missing limbs or organs without the aid of magic.
  • Immortality: Like all Olympians, Neptune is immune to the effects of aging. He has not aged since reaching adulthood. He cannot die by any conventional means, and is immune to all known Earthly diseases and infections.
  • Amphibious Physiology: As the Olympian God of the seas, Neptune is capable of breathing underwater and his body is able to withstand the extreme pressure and temperatures at the bottom of the ocean. Neptune is able to breathe both air and water.
  • Hydrokinesis: As the Olympian God of the Seas, Poseidon has Nigh-Omnipotent control over all forms of water. He can control, create and manipulate water such as making an entire ocean into a puddle or creating tsunamis. He can use his control over water to create powerful water blasts at his opponents. He is the greatest swimmer on the Earth. He can move at superhuman speeds while in water. He can breathe underwater indefinitely and can breathe oxygen as well.
  • Atmokinesis: As the Stormbringer, Poseidon has control over the weather to an equal degree as his brother Zeus.
  • Energy Manipulation: Poseidon possesses powerful energy-wielding abilities that are equaled among the Olympians only by those of Hades and surpassed only by those of Zeus. As such Poseidon's magical abilities surpass even that of the Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange, whom Pluto bested once in direct magical combat. Only a few of Poseidon's many energy-wielding powers have as yet been depicted. Poseidon can fire powerful force bolts from his hands powerful enough to destroy a planet, He can create powerful electrical fields, erect powerful, nearly impenetrable force fields, powerful enough to protect him from Zeus's attacks. He has the power of flight, light absorption, electric disruption and astral projection, temporarily increase his physical attributes, convert an entire tribe of his worshippers into water-breathers, change his (and that of others') size, shape and form into other people, animals and objects, create inter-dimensional apertures to enable him to transport himself from one dimension to another, mystically conceal himself from mortals (but not from gods), heal the injuries of other living beings, However, since his entrance to the Earthly plane his godly powers have been severely corroded.
  • Aquatic Zoopathy: Poseidon can communicate with all creatures of the seas.
  • Allspeak: Due to the Allspeak (also called All-Tongue), Poseidon can communicate in all languages, Earth's dialects, and various alien languages.

Abilities

Neptune is a formidable hand to hand combatant. However, he is more adept at using his energy manipulating powers during combat situations.

Weaknesses

Ambrosia Consumption: Despite his immortality, Poseidon still needs to consume the Olympian Ambrosia to remain deathless and virtue otherwise he will start to age or even die by turning to dust.[35]

Paraphernalia

Weapons

Neptune's Trident: Poseidon carries a Trident forged by the first Cyclops that was forged from his godly essence and is the symbol of his power. The Trident is virtually indestructible as it is composed of the Olympian metal adamantine. The Trident has control the waters of the Earth to make whirlpools, typhoons, large waves, cyclones, etc. It can also conjure massive amounts of water and manipulate energy for various purposes, as well as give control of all sea animals to the wielder. He can strike the bottom of the sea bed and cause earthquakes. Poseidon has also allowed his champion, Namor to wield his trident and its power.

Transportation

Neptune is capable of inter-dimensional transportation under his own power.

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Neptune's entry
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Saga of the Sub-Mariner #1
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Tales to Astonish #70
  4. Marvel Illustrated: The Iliad #7
  5. Man-Thing (Vol. 3) #7
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Poseidon's entry
  7. 7.0 7.1 Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #4
  8. 8.0 8.1 Kid Komics #1
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Trojan War #5
  10. Incredible Hercules #136
  11. Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1
  12. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #9
  13. Silver Surfer Annual #5
  14. Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual #2
  15. 15.0 15.1 Incredible Hercules #118
  16. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #9 ; Appendix: Olympians: Demi-Gods, Heroes and other Graeco-Roman Mythological Figures, continued: Pericymenus' entry
  17. 17.0 17.1 Incredible Hercules #114
  18. Hercules: Fall of an Avenger #2
  19. Trojan War #2
  20. Marvel Illustrated: The Iliad #5
  21. Tales of Suspense #10
  22. Marvel Classics Comics Series Featuring The Odyssey #1
  23. Marvel Illustrated: The Odyssey #18
  24. Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9
  25. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8
  26. 26.0 26.1 Tales to Astonish #75
  27. Venus #12
  28. Sub-Mariner #68
  29. Marvel Fanfare #16
  30. Avengers #282
  31. Avengers #285
  32. Incredible Hercules #122
  33. Incredible Hercules #123
  34. Hercules: Fall of an Avenger #1
  35. Heroic Age: Prince of Power #1
  36. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 14

Poseidon Aegaeus (Terra-616)

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