# Poseidon — The Iliad character guide

> Poseidon in The Iliad by Homer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Neptune, Earth-shaking Neptune, Dark-haired Neptune, mighty Neptune

**First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad

## Snapshot

The earth-shaking sea god who chafes under Zeus's decree, forbidden to aid the Greeks yet straining to break the Trojan line.

## Who they are

Poseidon sits in Zeus's council and hears the golden-chain threat like everyone else, but his sympathy for the Greek ships never cools. He is the great power held in reserve, a god whose mere presence on the battlefield would tip the scales, and whose restraint is itself a form of tension. His long grudge against Troy, rooted in old wrongs, makes him one of the poem's quiet engines, waiting for Zeus to look away.

## In the story

### [Book XIII: The Continuation of the Fourth Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiii-the-continuation-of-the-fourth-battle)

Descends from the sea in disguise as Calchas to rally the Greek chieftains, especially the Ajaxes, and revive their valor.

### [Book XIV: The Fraud Practised on Jupiter by Juno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xiv-the-fraud-practised-on-jupiter-by-juno)

Disguised as an old man, encourages Agamemnon and the Greeks, then leads the charge with a fearsome sword.

### [Book XX: The Battle of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xx-the-battle-of-the-gods)

Shakes the earth and joins the Greek forces, saving Aeneas from Achilles.

### [Book XXI: The Battle in the River Scamander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-xxi-the-battle-in-the-river-scamander)

Appears in human form to encourage Achilles during his struggle with the river.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/poseidon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters