POSEIDON:

THE EPITHETS

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EPITHETS OF POSEIDÓHN

This list of titles of the God Poseidóhn (Poseidon, Ποσειδῶν) includes all of the epithets found in Orphic Hymn 17 and more, gathered from various sources. The transliteration method used in this list is Reuchlinian and unique to this website where the emphasis is primarily on pronunciation, but to avoid confusion there are separate entries using the more familiar Erasmian spellings found in English and American universities.

Ælikóhnios - (Heliconius; Gr. Ἑλικώνιος, ΕΛΙΚΩΝΙΟΣ) Heliconian, of Helicon, title of Poseidon, Ἑ. ἄναξ Il.20.404: acc. to Sch., from Helice in Achaia, where he was especially honoured, 8.203. (L&S p. 533, right column)

Æmbýlios - (Empylios; Gr. Ἐμπύλιος, ΕΜΠΥΛΙΟΣ) at the gate, epith. of Artemis Hecate, Orphǽohs Argonaftiká 902: Boeot. ἐμπύληος ( = -λαιος), epith. of Poseidon at Thebes, IG 7.2465 (iv/iii B. C.). (L&S p. 549, left column)

Ænnosíyaios - (Ennosigaeus; Gr. Ἐννοσίγαιος, ΕΝΝΟΣΙΓΑΙΟΣ) In Orphic hymn 17.4, Poseidóhn is called Ænnosíyaios, Earth-shaker.

Lexicon entry: Ἐννοσίγαιος [σῐ], , Ep. for Ἐνοσίγ-, Earth-shaker, as a name of Poseidon, Il.13.43. (L&S p. 570, right column, edited for simplicity.)

Æpakmónios - (Epakmonius; Gr. Ἐπακμόνιος, ΕΠΑΚΜΟΝΙΟΣ) Æpakmónios is an epithet of Poseidóhn in Viohtía (Boeotia; Gr. Βοιωτία).

Æpóptis - (epoptes; Gr. ἐπόπτης, ΕΠΟΠΤΗΣ. Noun.) Lexicon entry: ἐπόπτης, ου, , (ἐπόψομαι) overseer, watcher, esp. of a God; title of Poseidon. (L&S p. 676, left column, within the entries beginning with ἐποπτεία, edited for simplicity.)

Aglaotríaina - (Gr. Ἀγλαοτρίαινα, ΑΓΛΑΟΤΡΙΑΙΝΑ) Aglaotríaina is an epithet of Poseidóhn meaning he of the bright trident.

Alídoupos - (Gr. ἁλίδουπος, ΑΛΙΔΟΥΠΟΣ. Adj.) Lexicon entry: ἁλίδουπος, ον, sea-resounding, of Poseidon, Orph.H.17.4. (L&S p. 65, right column, within the entries beginning with ἁλιδνοφεῖ.)

Ánax - (Gr. Ἄναξ, ΑΝΑΞ) Ánax is king.

Baructupos - See Varýktypos.

Eftríaina - (Eutriaina; Gr. Εὐτρίαινα, ΕΥΤΡΙΑΙΝΑ) Eftríaina is an epithet of Poseidóhn meaning of goodly trident (Gr. τρίαινα).

Empylios - See Æmbýlios.

Ennosigaeus - See Ænnosíyaios.

Epakmonius - See Æpakmónios.

Epoptes - See Æpóptis.

Gaieochus - See Yaiíokhos.

Heliconius - See Ælikóhnios.

Íppios - (hippius; Gr. ἵππιος, ÍΠΠΙΟΣ) In Orphic hymn 17.2, Poseidóhn is described as íppios, a horseman or protector of horses because he is said to have created the horse (Homer; Gr. Ὅμηρος. Iliás xxiii. 277).

- Lexicon entry: ἵππιος, α, ον, (ἵππος) poet. form of ἵππειος (q. v.), of a horse or horses; epith. of Poseidon as creator of the horse; hence, of Colonos as sacred to him; also of Athena; of Hera, at Olympia; of Ares. II. of horsemen or the horse-race. (L&S p. 834, left column, edited for simplicity.)

Kharitóhpis - (charitopes; Gr. χαριτώπης, ΧΑΡΙΤΩΠΗΣ. Noun.) Lexicon entry: χαρῐτώπης, ου, , (ὤψ) graceful of aspect, Orph.H.17.5 (ed. of Poseidóhn): fem. χαριτῶπις, ιδος. (L&S p. 1980, left column, within the entries beginning with χαρῐτόω, edited for simplicity.)

Kronios - Kronios is a name of Poseidóhn used by the Latin poets.

Kyanokhaitis - (kyanochaites; Gr. κυανοχαίτης, ΚΥΑΝΟΧΑΙΤΗΣ. Noun.) In Orphic hymn 17.1, Poseidóhn is described as kyanokhaitis, dark or blue-haired, like the sea.

- Lexicon entry: κυᾰνοχαίτης, ου, , dark-haired, in Hom. usu. of Poseidon, perh. in reference to the dark blue of the sea, Il.20.144, Od.9.536, cf. Hes. Th.278. (L&S p. 1004, left column, edited for simplicity.)

Kymothalís - (cymothales; Gr. κυμοθαλής, ΚΥΜΟΘΑΛΗΣ. Adj.) Lexicon entry: κῡμοθᾰλής, ές, abounding with waves, of Poseidon, Orph.H.17.5. (L&S p. 1009, right column, within the entries beginning with κῡμοδέγμων.)

Neptune - Neptune is the Roman name for Poseidóhn.

Nethuns - Nethuns is the Etruscan name for Poseidóhn.

Nymphayǽtis - (Gr. Νυμϕᾱγέτης, ΝΥΜΦΑΓΕΤΗΣ) Nymphayǽtis is a name of Poseidóhn meaning leader of the Nymphs.

- Lexicon entry: νυμφᾱγέτς, ου, , leader of the Nymphs, epith. of Poseidon, Corn.ND 22; of Pan, IG42(1).130.15 (Epid.) ; cf. νυμφηγέτης. (L&S p. 1184, left column, within the entries beginning with νυμφᾱγενής)

Orsotríaina - (Gr. Ὀρσοτρίαινα, ΟΡΣΟΤΡΙΑΙΝΑ) The Orsotríaina is Poseidóhn, the wielder of the Trident (Gr. τρίαινα).

Poseidóhn - (Poseidon; Gr. Ποσειδῶν, ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ. Pronounced: poh-see-THOHN', accent on the last syllable; the d (delta) at the beginning of the last syllable is pronounced like a soft th as in this, not like the th in theory.) Poseidóhn is the most common name for the God. The proposed etymology is πούς "foot" + δέω "bind" so, "I bind the feet." The feet walk on the earth where the rest of the body is in the air, so Poseidóhn joins the Orphic Earth and Aithír (Αἰθήρ) or Earth and Water.

Pontomǽdohn - (pontomedon; Gr. ποντομέδων, ΠΟΝΤΟΜΕΔΩΝ. Noun.) In Orphic hymn 17.4, Poseidóhn is called pontomǽdohn, lord of the sea, for it is the Sea and the Middle Sky from the Earth to the Moon which is his dominion.

- Lexicon entry: ποντομέδων, οντος, , lord of the sea, of Poseidon. (L&S p. 1448, right column, within the entries beginning with ποντοθήρης, edited for simplicity.)

Sæmnós - (semne; Gr. σεμνός, ΣΕΜΝΟΣ. σεμνός is masculine; σεμνή is feminine.) revered, august, holy.

Seisichthon - See Seisíkhthohn.

Seisíkhthohn - (seisichthon; Gr. σεισίχθων, ΣΕΙΣΙΧΘΩΝ) Lexicon entry: σεισίχθων, ονος, , earth-shaker, epith. of Poseidon, cf. ἐνοσίχθων; of Zeus, Orph.H.15.8. (L&S p. 1589, left column.)

Semnos - See Sæmnós.

Tæmænítis - (Temenites; Gr. Τεμενίτης, ΤΕΜΕΝΙΤΗΣ) Lexicon entry: τεμενίτης [], ου, , = τεμένιος: at Syracuse, Apollo of the Temenos (i.e. the precinct of Demeter and Persephone), Θουκυδίδης 6.75; τεμενίτης also epith. of Poseidon at Myconus; of Zeus at Amorgos: fem., ἡ ἄκρα ἡ Τεμενῖτις the height on which was the Temenos, Θουκυδίδης 7.3.

Temenites - See Tæmænítis.

Yaiíokhos - (Gaieochus; Gr. γαιήοχος, ΓΑΙΗΟΧΟΣ. Adj.) In Orphic hymn 17.1, Poseidóhn is described as yaiíokhos, he who holds the earth.

- Lexicon entry: γαιήοχος (also γαιηοῦχος, Hsch.), Dor. γαιάοχος, ον, γαιάϝοχος:—epith. of Poseidon, earth-moving, earth-carrying, Il.13.43. (L&S p. 335, right column, within the entries beginning with γαιηγενής, edited for simplicity.)

Varýktypos - (baructupos; Gr. βαρύκτυπος, ΒΑΡΥΚΤΥΠΟΣ. Adj.) In Orphic hymn 17.4, Poseidóhn is described as varýktypos, loud-thundering.

- Lexicon entry: βᾰρῠκτῠπος, ον, heavy-sounding, loud-thundering, epith. of Zeus; of Poseidon; also of the sea. (L&S p. 307, right column, within the entries beginning with βᾰρῠκάρδιος, edited for simplicity.)


The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.

This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase (Γῆς παῖς εἰμί καὶ Οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος) are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the lyre of Apóllôn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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