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Hapy And Poseidon: Similar Gods Of Different Cultures

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Similar Gods of Different Cultures During the time of ancient cultures, myths arose to explain a cause for natural phenomena within that region. There are archetypes within similar gods and goddesses between multiple cultures manipulating the same concepts and ideas for their functionality. For ancient Greece, Poseidon, the god of the seas and waters was created to explain why floods, sea storms, and earthquakes occurred and to promote the fertility of certain plants and animals on land (Felson 15: 697; Conner 80). The ancient Egyptians lived near the Nile River and attributed many occurrences of the Nile River to the water and fertility god, Hapy (Wilkinson 106). Even the Norse had their own water god, Aegir, to whom they sought answers …show more content…

Hapy is referred to as a fertility god from the appearance of his large breasts that provide nourishment and fertility and his prominent belly that ensures security of a good harvest (Wilkinson 107). Poseidon is known as a fertility god through his many affairs and creations (Conner 84-87). Hapy is worshipped through prayer and sacrifice to ensure yearly floods to provide a balance of fertility and new silt on the fields hopefully without homes washing away (Wilkinson 106). He is even referred to as the “lord of the fishes and birds” (Wilkinson 106). Poseidon on the other hand created bodies of water with his trident, yet in return he wanted to win over cities and fulfill his sexual desires. In the land of Argos, Poseidon dried the region and the daughters of King Danaus sought out to find any water, in return of Poseidon creating a spring for Amymone, he wanted to fulfill his sexual desires with her. Through their affair, Nauplius was born (Conner 81, 85) As stated beforehand, Hapy’s physical appearance gives clarity to why he is a fertility god while Poseidon’s appearance doesn’t give him his name as a fertility god but as a water

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