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ArchivesPoseidon, please, Pavlos!
I see from your posting below that Athena, etymologically speaking, is famous for waving a sharp-pointed weapon. OK ... and she and Poseidon were competitors for the honour of sponsoring Athens, right? She won by producing a (sharp, pointy?) olive tree which beat her uncle's horses.
Clearly this story is highly dubious, not to say ex post facto. What interests me is that in terms of the etymology, Athene sounds remarkably like Poseidon, the Earth-Shaker and wielder of the trident. Is it possible that the two of them started out together sponsoring the same kinds of things - earthquakes, among others? Much like Apollo and Artemis both being sky gods? That might account for thm both being associated with the same city, and provide a more respectable origin for Athene than her father's migraine.
So, is there anything in the name of Poseidon that might shed any further light? Ocean-Going Embroiderer would be nice ...
All the best
Clearly this story is highly dubious, not to say ex post facto. What interests me is that in terms of the etymology, Athene sounds remarkably like Poseidon, the Earth-Shaker and wielder of the trident. Is it possible that the two of them started out together sponsoring the same kinds of things - earthquakes, among others? Much like Apollo and Artemis both being sky gods? That might account for thm both being associated with the same city, and provide a more respectable origin for Athene than her father's migraine.
So, is there anything in the name of Poseidon that might shed any further light? Ocean-Going Embroiderer would be nice ...
All the best
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