![]() However, a question that could arise was, why Zeus? ![]() The development of the Greek gods to include many other deities along with the demotion of Poseidon due to the introduction of the deity known as Hades could be explained as the evolution of culture over several centuries. Since the exact history and beliefs of this civilization wasn’t recorded in writing format, the Mycenaean civilization and their believed exploits was romanticized by their successors in the Classical era. Being a sea faring and warlike race with one of the earliest and most sophisticated naval forces of their time, Poseidon was given a position of power as the primary deity worshipped by these early Greek city-states, while Zeus was worshipped as a minor god as the elemental deities linked to the sky weren’t given particular importance in this Parthenon of deities. It should be noted that most works from Classical Greek Literature and epics and legends such as the Odyssey and the Iliad were set in this era.Įarly Mycenaean works of art depicts Poseidon as a deity linked to the Underworld, instead of Hades (another brother of Poseidon) as well as Poseidon maintaining control of the oceans. The earliest known recorded Greek culture was Mycenaean Greece (from 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE), which existed before a time known as the dark ages from 1100 BCE to 750 BCE (before the Classical era), which was a time of deterioration of Greek culture and the art of writing was and written records of this era was lost (it is believed that this occurred due to several continuous famines, foreign invasions and continuous war). This was a time when Athens developed democracy and the Spartans built one of the most fearsome armies the world has ever seen, however, contradictory to popular belief, Greek civilization was older than this era. Our understanding of Greek literature and deities come from the Classical Era (from 600 BCE to 400 BCE), a time of great scientific and social development for the Greek civilization as a whole. Modern interpretations visualize Poseidon as a powerful deity with control over all of the world’s seas and oceans, and causes earthquakes when necessary, while the title of King of the gods was given to Zeus, the god of the sky and thunder and Poseidon’s younger brother. One such misunderstood deity was Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea and other waters. Similarly, many believe the same regarding the gods worshipped by these civilizations. Despite a common misconception that ancient cultures and civilizations remain constant in their distinct traits and beliefs from their inception throughout their entire existence, they are as volatile as today’s society, continuously adapting with the flow of time and social norms.
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