All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

Athenians but also to those with whom they traded – so

the tree could both nourish the people of Athens and make

them rich. They would be able to use the olive wood, too, to

construct things. King Cecrops, the ruler of Greece, confirmed

that such a tree had never been seen on the Acropolis. After

hearing all the evidence, Zeus declared Athena to be the

winner of the contest. She became the city’s patron deity,

and the place was named after her.

THE COMING OF THE FLOOD

Poseidon was furious when he heard the result

of the competition. He took up his trident and smote

the sea many times, causing a great storm. The waters

rose and the plain of Eleusis, where Athens stood, was

flooded. The waters covered the plain for a long

time, but finally they subsided, allowing the Athenians

to repair their city. They built a temple to their new

goddess, Athena, who would bring them prosperity, but

also made oferings to Poseidon, to placate the angry god.

THE MYTH

Poseidon and Athena both wanted to be the controlling

deity of the city of Athens. Rather than declaring war and

fighting a battle, the two gods decided that they would

settle their dispute by competing to provide the best gift

for the city’s people. The sea god climbed the Acropolis

(the hill overlooking Athens); when he reached the top,

he struck the ground hard with his trident and a saltwater

spring began to flow. Then Athena came to the Acropolis

and ofered her gift: the first olive tree to grow in the city.

THE GODS’ JUDGEMENT

Zeus summoned the other gods from Mount Olympus

to judge the gifts and decide which of the two was greater.

The appearance of the spring was impressive, but salt water

was of little use to the people. The olive tree, on the other

hand, provided a

source of olives, and

their oil was useful

for both cooking and

lighting. Olive oil was

valuable not just to the

Many ancient Greeks lived on islands or in settlements

close to the coast, so their lives were dominated by the

sea. Consequently, the sea god Poseidon, a bringer of

violent storms, who also controlled natural forces such

as earthquakes, was one of the most powerful gods of

Mount Olympus. But he longed for more power, and

became involved in a dispute with Athena for the great

honour of being the patron deity of the city of Athens.

Poseidon and the Flood

CLASSICAL EUROPEThe dispute with Athena

Poseidon with his trident and Athena with

her spear made formidable opponents,

although they decided to settle their

dispute peacefully.

Poseidon

The god of the sea is often

shown as a bearded man holding a trident

and enthroned in a giant clam shell or aboard a

shell-like chariot pulled by dolphins or seahorses.

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