Poseidon was pleased with himself and his effort. He felt his entry in the competition (the
prize of which was to the Patron God of the City) was a bit of a corker. All he had had to
do was produce something more useful than his rival.
The day of the contest was a hot one and, up on the Acropolis, Poseidon became inspired.
He looked down at his feet, seeing dry dust and rock, then he looked out to sea, his
domain, that these people transported their wares on for sale and got food from: but could
not drink.
The idea pleased Poseidon, he would complete the circle of gifts from him. With that he
struck the rock with his trident and from it sprung a stream of clear, pure water that would
forever provide for the people of the city founded by Erichthonius. They would be able to
drink this and use it for agriculture.
Poseidon, however, had got himself caught up on an idea that proved too simple. As the
God of the Deep Blue Sea, with water running through his veins, this was easy to do. He
had not looked between the Acropolis and the sea to see what the people had and had
not.
They had sunk wells, they had drinking water and water for irrigation. And true, they had
food from the sea. But so do all cities by the sea. And fish, though they can be salted
and sold abroad, are bulky and cannot easily be transported and sold in particularly great
numbers. Poseidon had not recognised the need for a new crop.
Athena had. And from the earth she made grow the city’s first olive tree- and the people
saw a fruit they could eat and transport in great quantities around the world as food or as
oil. Not to mention the exclusivity of this plant. Everyone would have to come to them and
only them for it.
And so Poseidon was outdone and it was Athena who gave her name to that City of
Greece.
prize of which was to the Patron God of the City) was a bit of a corker. All he had had to
do was produce something more useful than his rival.
The day of the contest was a hot one and, up on the Acropolis, Poseidon became inspired.
He looked down at his feet, seeing dry dust and rock, then he looked out to sea, his
domain, that these people transported their wares on for sale and got food from: but could
not drink.
The idea pleased Poseidon, he would complete the circle of gifts from him. With that he
struck the rock with his trident and from it sprung a stream of clear, pure water that would
forever provide for the people of the city founded by Erichthonius. They would be able to
drink this and use it for agriculture.
Poseidon, however, had got himself caught up on an idea that proved too simple. As the
God of the Deep Blue Sea, with water running through his veins, this was easy to do. He
had not looked between the Acropolis and the sea to see what the people had and had
not.
They had sunk wells, they had drinking water and water for irrigation. And true, they had
food from the sea. But so do all cities by the sea. And fish, though they can be salted
and sold abroad, are bulky and cannot easily be transported and sold in particularly great
numbers. Poseidon had not recognised the need for a new crop.
Athena had. And from the earth she made grow the city’s first olive tree- and the people
saw a fruit they could eat and transport in great quantities around the world as food or as
oil. Not to mention the exclusivity of this plant. Everyone would have to come to them and
only them for it.
And so Poseidon was outdone and it was Athena who gave her name to that City of
Greece.
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