Sailing Across the Seas

So, I was recently browsing the new MountO search engine that Hephaestus installed, and I stumbled upon a website known as "youtube.com". Has anyone out there ever heard of this site? It's pretty cool — people can submit their own videos to share with the rest of the world.

Anyhow, I was aimlessly scrolling through the videos, when suddenly, I found a rather surprising one. It was a video of a song called "Sailing", and was apparently written by some guy named Christopher Cross. I started listening to it, and I felt this strange sort of—… of connection, for lack of a better word. As I was listening to it, it reminded me of happier times, and of the better moments before I had ever needed to have dealt with the wretched Odysseus. It actually brought some tears to my eyes.

It was a song about the peace and tranquility that you get out on the water. About the solitude found when all alone with no one but the ocean and the wind to keep you company. About how it takes your mind from everyday worries. And it was exquisite, and wonderful, and good in every which way.

The song also reminded me of other things, though. Emotions and feelings that I have not properly felt in many years. It gave me a sense of power, and belonging. Just knowing that the domain over which I rule had the power and beauty to inspire someone to compose music about it. That fact has done just as much, if not more, to make me feel better about myself than the emotions the song instilled in me had. Truthfully, I have not felt as good as hearing this song has made me feel in a great long while. If only there were more songs such as this one… That would finally give me a proper sense of belonging in regards to the mortals...

Quite frankly, this was one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Certainly far better the measly tinkling noises Hermes can play with his lyre, or Pan with his pipes.

Later, I found myself interested in trying to find more music the likes of "Sailing". However, for the brief amount of time that I had allocated for myself for the purpose of finding more of that style of music, I was unable to find any other similar songs. It is now that I reach out to those out there who are reading this right now. If you happen to know of other songs such as this one, would you be willing to oblige an old, weary sea-god? Though it's a common misconception that I spend all of my time battling against foolish mortals and thrice-cursed members of my family, I do actually need things to preoccupy myself. And little things like listening to music are just about the only things that keep me going every day. So please, if any of you happen upon any good music like "Sailing", please let me know.

Now, for those of you who are interested, the video to "Sailing" can be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMkIuKXwmlU

Leading by Example: How the Other Gods Abuse Their Power

They say some gods have too much power; I happen to agree. There are certain gods who, in my honest opinion, don’t deserve nearly as much power as they have. Take my younger brother, Zeus, for example. He takes almost everything he has for granted! He honestly believes that anything he wants is his to take, and no one can stop him. Quite frankly, everybody else is too frightened to just stand up to him and say, “No, you can’t do that!” Anyone who disobeys him experiences his wrath. Even when he ends up being wrong, others have to suffer for his own stupidity. No one can stand up to his great power.

I remember when my poor nephew Hephaestus sided with sister Hera during an argument with her incredibly immature husband Zeus. Zeus became so angry that he took Hephaestus by his legs and literally threw him off of Mount Olympus. He behaved as if the poor smith was a discus! My goodness, the miserable guy fell for a whole day, until he landed on Lemnos with a crash so hard, the island itself shook! After that, the poor boy would never be able to walk normally again. From then on, he suffered from a terrible limp, and his walk was completely unstable.

Why does Zeus have the right to do that? Even if he disagrees with someone, he shouldn’t be able to destroy their lives so easily. And Zeus is not the only god that wields too much power. My niece, Athena, is just as bad!

I absolutely can not stand Athena! She always tries to undermine everything I do. Unfortunately for me, I can’t really do anything about her because she is Zeus’s daughter, and “ickle daddy’s little precious girl”. Zeus favors her far too much, and that bias gets in the way of fair judgment. He does just about anything that Athena asks him to. When I was in Ethiopia they went behind my back and instructed poor lonely Calypso to release the awful Odysseus. They did not even spare a moment to consider my poor Cyclops son Polyphemus. who had been blinded by that scoundrel from Ithaca.

Now, I know that not everyone hates Zeus and Athena, but if there is a god that no one likes, it is Ares. Ares, the god of war, is bad news! I don’t know why we granted him the power to cause war wherever he goes. As gods we strive for harmony, justice and peace. Ares goes around and ruins everything. He causes devastation in the most peaceful places. Wherever he is, terror follows. Why should we let him have that power? He is only causing us more problems!And we, as fellow gods, do nothing to stop him.

Another god we don’t stop is my brother Hades. The god of the underworld has far too much control over the dead. Sometimes, certain people end up unjustly dead. If an innocent child dies, why shouldn’t Hades release them back to their grieving and sorrowful parents? He has no good reasons — just his stupid rules guiding him on. People have become so afraid of him that they won’t even speak his name for fear of attracting his attention. And yet, many still call him the Hospitable One. Just because he always has room for more dead souls doesn’t make him hospitable. It just makes him far greedier than anyone ought to be!

As god of the seas, earthquakes, horses and bulls, I have earned my right to do as I wish. I believe that I am one of the fairest and justest of the gods, and others have a lot to learn from me.

An Immortal Greeting

Greetings mortals. I am Poseidon, son of the great Titans Cronus and Rhea; god of the sea, earthquakes, bulls, horses and seaweed. I love the sea, its beauty, tranquility, and all of the adventures I get to experience while ruling this vast blue majesty. I love the power I have - the feeling it gives me as it rushes through my body.  When something angers me, I can hit the earth with my trident and split it wide open. That is why one of my titles is “Earth Shaker”. When I am in a good mood, I can stretch out my hand and cause new lands to rise out of the seas.  For example, I created the island of Delos where Artemis and Apollo, the twin children of Zeus and Leto, were born.

I live in a great palace at the bottom of the sea, but I spend a considerable amount of time away from home travelling.  Much of my time is spent up on Mount Olympus with my brother Zeus, his wife - my sister - Hera, and most of the other Olympian gods.  Zeus and I do not get along very well.  In fact, the two of us and our brother Hades have one of the world’s greatest rivalries.  Sometimes our quarrels get messy and cause problems.  I’m not a big fan of my brothers, or my niece Athena for that matter.

My hobbies include using my trident on warships and changing the tides. Perhaps one of my favorite activities is racing the waves with my snow white horses.  In fact, I happen to be the god who created horses. I enjoy making love to random women (some a lot more than others).  In that way I am similar to my brother Zeus.  The only problem is that my wife Amphitrite fumes in extreme jealous when I am disloyal to her.  

Generally, I am friendly to those who don’t get on my bad side. Basically, don’t mess with me, and you won’t have to see me when I’m angry.  There have been people in the past who have made me angry - very angry - one of whom was Odysseus. Thoosa, a sea nymph, and I were the parents of Polyphemos, the Cyclops.  The wicked Odysseus blinded our beloved son by piercing his only eye.  To avenge this crime, I will do everything in my power to prevent Odysseus from reaching his home and family in Ithaca.  I capsized his ship as he journeyed home from Troy.  Sadly all on the ship but perished except from him! That wicked Odysseus ended up on Ogygia with Calypso for seven years.  Then my ridiculous brother sent his son to tell Calypso to release him.  Off he sailed to Ithaca while I was in Ethiopia. Fortunately, I found out in time and managed to capsize his vessel after 18 days.

I hate that he and his son dream of seeing one another again.  My poor Polythemos will never be able to see me thanks to that evil mortal!  As I mentioned before, my niece Athena and I have a very bad relationship.  It angers me that she is making every effort to help Odysseus and bring him home to Ithaca safely.  It is as if she wants me to be angry. So far, it has worked very well, almost too well. I am angry. Very, very angry...