If you’re a Percy Jackson fan, you’ll know the rivalry between the titular character’s father, Poseidon and Athena, the mother of his girlfriend, Annabeth Chase. But in the myths, how did this feud begin and why? The answer might surprise you. We’ll discuss a touchy subject in this edition of The Agrippina Files, so you’ve been warned. Also, this article doesn’t reference the storylines from the Percy Jackson universe. If you are looking for the category on the PJO universe, use the search bar and search ‘Percy Jackson.’
So, let’s get into the post. Why did Athena and Poseidon despise each other? One word, folks. Ownership.
That’s right. The two Olympians were feuding over ownership. And what were they claiming ownership over? Well, a city in Greece, of course! There are multiple versions of the competition between the two gods, but we will go with the basic one; the olive tree and the freshwater spring.
Two Sides Of The Athena/Poseidon Rivalry
According to the story, the region’s people chose the olive tree, which upset Poseidon. However, as per See U In History/Mythology, another version says that the men and women chose due to their gender and that Athena won as there were more women. Also, it had to do with the men being fishermen and the sea god wanting to name the city after himself.
The See U In History version explains that after the city was dedicated to Athena, it fell into anarchy. The Athenian women were prohibited from voting.
Moving onto the second story, still seething from being denied the chance to have a city named after him, Poseidon decided to go after one of the priestesses who worshipped Athena. He pursued Medusa, a devoted worshipper of the Goddess of Wisdom who was good at what she did.
Lustful, Poseidon cornered Medusa in one of Athena’s temples and raped her. Seeing what happened, Athena punishes the girl and turns her into the gorgon we all know from the myths. There is another version where the relationship between the sea god and the priestess was consensual. Not sure if that is in line with the legends, though.
Poseidon had gotten his revenge on his niece; he had desecrated Athena’s temple and taken the maidenhood of her most devoted priestess. Due to Athena cursing Medusa, the former worshipper lost her humanity. She was eventually hunted and slain by Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus, who presented Medusa’s head to Athena. Medusa’s likeness would be placed on the shield carried by Zeus and Athena known as Aegis.
