The trident is the weapon of Poseidon ( Greek) or Neptune ( Roman), the god of the sea in classical mythology. Other sea deities such as Amphitrite or Triton were also often depicted with a trident in classical art. Later, tridents were used in medieval heraldry, sometimes held by a merman or triton. In Hinduism, it is the weapon of Shiva and is known as a trishula ( Sanskrit for "triple-spear"). The Greek equivalent is τρίαινα ( tríaina), from Proto-Greek trianja, meaning "threefold". The Greek term does not imply three of anything specific, and is vague about the shape, thus the assumption it was originally of "trident" form has been challenged. [1] In the art of Greece and Rome, Poseidon is almost always pictured with his trident. This three-pronged spear was both his most famous attribute and his most powerful weapon. Poseidon’s Trident is a three-pronged fishing spear made of gold or brass. Poseidon used his weapon many times in the creation of Greece, splitting land with earthquakes, creating rivers, and even drying up areas to form deserts.

Book 3 of the Long War series follows the adventures of Arimnestos of Plataea, the heroic killer of men from the previous two books. Poseidon was the father of many important children, including the fish-tailed Triton, and Pegasus, the winged horse. Poseidon plays a major role in several tales in Greek mythology, primarily because of his ability to control the seas and his role in building the walls of the city of Troy. How Did the Sea God Get His Trident? The exterior of the World Trade Center used three-pronged decorative and structural elements at its base, commonly referred to as "tridents". Poseidon continued to use his trident. Sometimes this use was beneficial, like when he created the spring that gave Athens its water, but it could also bring devastation with earthquakes and floods. My Modern Interpretation The trident is associated with the sea god Poseidon. This divine instrument is said to have been forged by the cyclopes. [3]Like many of the gods’ symbols, the trident also had a story connected to its origin. In the legend of how the gods of Olympus won power from their elders, Poseidon’s trident was a powerful gift that helped to ensure victory for the younger gods.

The glyph or sigil of the planet Neptune (♆), which alludes to the trident, is used in astronomy and astrology. Hurwit, Jeffrey M. (1999). The Athenian Acropolis: History, Mythology, and Archaeology from the Neolithic Era to the Present. Cambridge University Press. p.32. ISBN 978-0-521-41786-0. I have said since it came out that God of War was the book of the year 2012. I have now been proved a liar. Myths [ edit ] Coin of Poseidonia, c. 530–500 BC. Poseidon is seen wielding a trident with a chlamys draped over his arms. Turner, Andy. "Fish Gigging: An Ozark Tradition". Missouri Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on 2019-08-11 . Retrieved 2015-02-12.Arimnestos gives up (for the most part) his soldiering days and becomes a merchant. It's an interesting change, but overall I found it a lot less compelling. The symbol of the trident was also one that was not exclusive to the sea. While its resemblance to a fishing spear made it a fitting symbol for Poseidon, it also has a prominent parallel in another Indo-European religion. Christian Cameron was clearly constrained by the historical timeline here. What happens between Greece and Persia after Marathon? Not much for about 10 years. Instead of skipping ahead those 10 years, Cameron opts to tell a transitional side story. A transition novel like this needs to focus on setting the stage so the next one can come running out of the gate, or focus on some significant character development. This does neither, and feels completely pointless as a result. In later Greek and Roman art and literature, other sea deities and their attendants have been depicted holding the trident.

This story was depicted by the great Italian artist, Antonio Fantuzzi, in a quite fantastic etching that includes an audience of other gods. Where Does the Trident Appear in Art and Religion? And so a journey begins for Arimnestos which will take him beyond the edge of the known world in a quest for freedom and revenge.Poseidon, as well as being the god of the sea, was also known as the "Earth Shaker", [7] believed to cause earthquakes; [8] [a] some commentators [ who?] have extrapolated that the god would have used the trident to cause them, [9] possibly by striking the earth. [ citation needed] Zeus and his brothers divided the realms of the world between them. While he shared the rule of the Earth and Mount Olympus with his brothers, Poseidon took control of the sea and made his home there. A weapon of South-East Asian (particularly Thai) depiction of Hanuman, a character of Ramayana. [ citation needed] Miscellaneous [ edit ] Burkert, Walter (1985). The Athenian Acropolis: History, Mythology, and Archaeology from the Neolithic Era to the Present. Translated by Raffan, John. Harvard University Press. p.137. ISBN 978-0-674-36281-9.

John Lindley and Thomas Moore (1964) The Treasury of Botany: A Popular Dictionary of the Vegetable Kingdom with which is Incorporated a Glossary of Botanical Terms, Published by Longmans Green, pt.1 The view shared by Friedrich Wieseler, E. M. W. Tillyard and several other researchers is that Poseidon's trident is a fish spear, typical for coast-dwelling Greeks. [13] A trident / ˈ t r aɪ d ə n t/ is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm.Distraught over the death of his wife, Aristemnos — bronzesmith, warrior, and survivor of the battle of Marathon — flings himself off a cliff to drown. Instead, he finds that he has leapt from the frying pan of grief into the fire of being a galley slave of the Phoenicians.