Origins of Poseidon

Poseidon — along with others of the pantheon of Greek gods — have been documented since deep antiquity. Poseidon is one of the most famous of the Greek gods, and the oldest, documented from at least the Bronze Age. Interestingly, the Origins of Poseidon can be traced back from the Greeks to the Minoans — an ancestor culture of the Classic Greece — and before that, we can trace the gods to their older forms in Sumerian, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian Religions.

Minoans Origins of Poseidon

The Minoan Origins of Poseidon are hinted at in Greek Mythology. The Minoans — a people of ancient history contemporary to Old Kingdom Egyptians, Sumerians, and Akkadians who connected them with their extensive ancient trading empire — lived primarily on the island of Crete.

A number of Greek myths concern Crete fundamental ways. Many central stories of Greek religion dealing with the origins of the gods, their domains of power, and famous tales, all touch on Crete which appears to accentuate the relationship between Greek and Minoan Religion. In the same way that Mount Olympus is intrinsically linked with the gods, so too is the island of Crete. Zeus is tied to the island in some way, as is Poseidon.

One of the most famous is the myth of Poseidon, King Minos, and the Cretan Bull. King Minos, lord of Knossos, prayed to Poseidon for a sign, specifically, a bull, that would prove he was the true heir to the throne of the city of Knossos. [1]

One day, a great bull emerged from the sea. Poseidon had answered the prayers of King Minos — he was indeed the true king. Now, King Minos should have sacrificed the bull to the gods. However, he was so impressed by the bull that he hid it amongst his cattle.

As punishment, Poseidon made King Minos wife fall in love with the Cretan bull, whom she had relations with, and gave birth to a son: the famous Minotaur of the labyrinth designed by Daedalus.

In addition to legends of King Minos praying to Poseidon, there are also accounts that he sacrificed to the God annually. (1)

Linear A and Linear B

The Minoans wrote in a script called Linear A, which has yet to be deciphered, so we don’t know much about their intellectual, creative, and religious life. (1)

However, because we have deciphered Linear B, the script of the Bronze Age Greeks, and since Linear A and Linear B are very similar, while we cannot read the inscriptions per se, we can transliterate them to a degree. (1) In some cases we know what the inscription means, even if we do not know what the word itself means. (1)

Scholars have been able to recognize the names of Greek gods in Minoan inscriptions. Even after the Mycenaeans conquered Greece c.1450 BCE they did not change Minoan religion significantly until into the Iron Age. (1)

Poteidan — Minoan Poseidon

Based on Minoan inscriptions we know that probably the highest goddess of Minoan pantheon was Potnia, and her counterpart was the leader of the Minoan Pantheon: Poteidan. The palace of Knossos was sacred to her, as it was to her counterpart, Poteidan, who were central to the sites religious dedication. (1) She was a version of the Great Mother goddess seen throughout the Near East. (1)

In Minoan mythology, goddesses often come with a god as her counterpart. (This is very Egyptian in nature, as their emphasis of counterparts within their religion and pantheon is notable. As is that of the Sumerians, who were somewhat similar in this regard since the major gods had wives. As a result…) The counterpart of Potnia was the god Poteidan (also known as Potidas) — the highest god of the Minoan Pantheon, the ruler of Earth, Sea and Sky. (1)

Poteidan was the Minoan predecessor of the Greek Poseidon, which is fairly clear in the name itself. The Doric Greeks of later centuries retained the name ‘Poteidan’ in their records. [1]

The later Greek association between Poseidon, Crete, and the Cretan Bull is probably a remnant of the importance of the bull as a symbol to the Minoans. It may have been a symbol of power, authority, or Poteidan himself. The Minoans were also famous for the practice of bull-leaping. It was a religious tradition, more than a sport. [1]

A Minoan clay seal was discovered, which appears to depict Poseidon — a god at least — brandishing a spear on top of a building on the shore, which appears to have waves leaping against it. This might be the oldest depiction of Poseidon. [1] (This seal is from Kydonia, Late Minoan IB, between Thera eruption and Mycenaean conquest.)