Poseidon is depicted holding a trident, a three-pronged symbol which Plato uses to signify the three continents that were part of Atlantis’s empire. The trident also represents Poseidon’s dominion over the sea and earthquakes.
Poseidon is the founder and divine ruler of Atlantis. He marries a mortal woman named Cleito and fathers ten sons who become the kings of Atlantis.
Poseidon creates the island’s unique geography, including concentric rings of water and land to protect the central island.
He establishes laws and governance systems for his descendants to ensure a prosperous and orderly civilization.
Gods simular to Poseidon
| Deity | Culture | Attributes and Similarities |
|---|---|---|
| Thalan | Atlanteans | |
| Neptune | Roman | God of the sea, equivalent to Poseidon, associated with horses, earthquakes, and storms |
| Njord | Norse | God of the sea, wind, fishing, wealth, and crop fertility |
| Varuna | Hindu | God of the oceans, associated with law, cosmic order, and the celestial ocean |
| Sobek | Egyptian | God of the Nile, water, fertility, and crocodiles |
| Enki (Ea) | Sumerian/Akkadian | God of water, knowledge, mischief, crafts, and creation, associated with the sea |
| Yam | Canaanite/Phoenician | God of the sea and rivers, represents primordial chaos and is often depicted as a dragon |
| Manannán mac Lir | Celtic | God of the sea and ruler of the Otherworld, associated with weather and fertility |
| Perkwunos | Slavic | God of waters, related to storms and springs, similar to Perun but associated with water |
| Tangaroa | Polynesian | God of the sea, fish, and aquatic life, associated with creation |
| Agwe | Haitian Vodou | Loa of the sea, fish, and aquatic plants, protector of sailors and fishermen |
| Mazu | Chinese | Goddess of the sea, protector of sailors and fishermen |
| Suijin | Japanese | Shinto god of water, associated with rivers, lakes, and the sea |
| Sedna | Inuit | Goddess of the sea and marine animals, ruler of the underworld |
| Olokun | Yoruba (West Africa) | Orisha of the sea, associated with wealth, health, and deep knowledge |
| Pele | Hawaiian | Goddess of volcanoes and fire, also has connections to the sea and creation of new land through lava |
10 Sons of Poseidon
- Atlas
- Eumelus (Gadeirus in some translations)
- Ampheres
- Evaemon
- Mneseus
- Autochthon
- Elasippus
- Mestor
- Azaes
- Diaprepes
Plato’s Account of Poseidon in “Critias” and “Timaeus”
Founding of Atlantis:
- Role: Poseidon is the god who establishes the island of Atlantis.
- Marriage to Cleito: Poseidon marries a mortal woman named Cleito. Together, they have ten sons, who become the rulers of different parts of Atlantis.
- Division of Atlantis: Poseidon divides Atlantis into ten portions, each ruled by one of his sons, with the eldest son, Atlas, ruling the central and most important part.
- Creation of Atlantis: Poseidon shapes the landscape of Atlantis, making it a magnificent and fortified island. He creates concentric rings of water and land to protect the central part of the island where Cleito lives.
Attributes and Significance:
- God of the Sea: As the god of the sea, Poseidon’s dominion over Atlantis is fitting, given its island nature.
- Divine Order: Poseidon establishes laws and governance systems for his descendants to follow, ensuring a structured and prosperous civilization.
- Protection and Blessing: The natural fortifications and the fertility of the land are attributed to Poseidon’s divine intervention, making Atlantis a powerful and prosperous nation.
Ignatius Donnelly’s “Atlantis: The Antediluvian World”
Founding and Divinity:
- Role: Similar to Plato, Donnelly emphasizes Poseidon as the divine founder of Atlantis.
- Cleito and Descendants: Donnelly reiterates the story of Poseidon and Cleito, mentioning their ten sons who ruled Atlantis.
- Cultural Influence: Donnelly suggests that Poseidon’s rule and the civilization he established influenced other cultures around the world. He attributes many ancient civilizations’ advancements and mythologies to the Atlanteans under Poseidon’s rule.
Attributes and Significance:
- God of the Sea: Donnelly also emphasizes Poseidon’s role as the sea god, highlighting Atlantis’s maritime prowess and naval dominance.
- Advanced Civilization: Donnelly expands on Plato’s descriptions by suggesting that the advancements and technologies of Atlantis were a result of Poseidon’s divine influence and the structured governance he established.
- Universal Legacy: He argues that the myths and stories of Poseidon found in various cultures (Greek, Roman, etc.) have their origins in the historical reality of Atlantis.
Bridgman-Metchum’s “1903 Bridgman-Metchum Atlantis”
Founding and Mythology:
- Role: Bridgman-Metchum adheres to the notion of Poseidon as the founder and divine protector of Atlantis.
- Cleito and Lineage: Like Plato and Donnelly, Bridgman-Metchum recounts the marriage of Poseidon to Cleito and their progeny, who become the rulers of Atlantis.
- Divine Intervention: He emphasizes Poseidon’s role in shaping the island and its defenses, similar to Plato’s concentric rings of water and land.
Attributes and Significance:
- God of the Sea: Poseidon’s identity as the sea god is central, with his control over the waters symbolizing the power and isolation of Atlantis.
- Civilization’s Peak: Bridgman-Metchum highlights the peak of Atlantean civilization under Poseidon’s influence, depicting it as a time of unparalleled prosperity and technological advancement.
- Moral Decline and Punishment: Echoing Plato’s themes, Bridgman-Metchum also attributes the eventual decline of Atlantis to a moral and spiritual decay that even Poseidon’s laws could not prevent.
Comparative Analysis
Founding of Atlantis:
- All three writers agree on Poseidon’s foundational role in establishing Atlantis, marrying Cleito, and fathering ten sons who become rulers.
- Plato provides the original myth, focusing on Poseidon’s creation of the physical and political structure of Atlantis.
- Donnelly and Bridgman-Metchum build on this foundation, adding layers of historical and cultural interpretation.
Attributes and Significance:
- Sea God: All three emphasize Poseidon’s dominion over the sea, aligning with his mythological role and Atlantis’s nature as an island.
- Civilization and Governance: Poseidon is portrayed as a lawgiver and protector, whose influence ensures the initial prosperity and order of Atlantis.
- Advanced Civilization: Donnelly and Bridgman-Metchum particularly highlight the advanced nature of Atlantean society, crediting Poseidon with its technological and cultural achievements.
Moral and Spiritual Themes:
- Plato introduces the theme of moral decline leading to Atlantis’s downfall, a theme that both Donnelly and Bridgman-Metchum adopt and expand.
- Bridgman-Metchum and Donnelly use Poseidon’s narrative to illustrate the eventual consequences of hubris and moral decay.
Cultural Influence and Legacy:
- Donnelly expands Poseidon’s influence beyond Atlantis, suggesting that Atlantean culture and technology spread globally, influencing various ancient civilizations.
- Bridgman-Metchum focuses more on the mythical and moral aspects, emphasizing the divine narrative and the moral lessons from Atlantis’s history.
