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Hives during my next spa day?
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Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy.
I'm your host Thomas and it's so lovely to have your company.
Tonight, we return to our series on the Olympian gods of Greek mythology, a series that I have the pleasure of narrating in its entirety, all of which was wonderfully written by Frankie.
The ancient Greek god of storms earthquakes, horses and the sea is as changeable as the realms he rules over.
Poseidon is the next deity we shall visit during our excursions into Greek myth.
One of Zeus's two tempestuous brothers, Poseidon is a god with literally earth-shaking power.
We'll attend with him in his underwater palace and discover his strange connection with horses.
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Thank you so much, my friends.
Your support really does go a long way in helping us to keep this show going.
Now then, let us begin tonight's journey by ridding ourselves of the various weights we've accumulated during the day.
So, clear your mind by focusing on the gentle rhythm of your breath.
As you breathe, imagine the surf on a white sand beach.
The beach is covered with seashells, and they glitter in the sun.
You may be tempted to pick them up and examine them, but each one has a thought or worry from the day etched onto its colorful surface.
These are the things you shall let go of.
The waves lap the beach.
And with each inhale, they flow smoothly across the sand.
With every exhale, they pull back to sea.
With the next inhale, the water covers one or two of the shells And as you exhale, the shell is swept out to sea.
Repeat this over and over again until the beach is free of shells.
The white sand beach is overcome by a sense of peace.
Take a moment to listen to the sound of the waves and the call of the wind.
When you are ready, walk towards the water.
The cool sea brushes against your toes and up your calves as you wade further in.
Now is the moment to plunge beneath the surface and discover what adventures are waiting there.
This is where our story begins.
The sea is pure aquamarine.
Its surface is unmarred by large vessels or commercial fishing boats.
This is many hundreds of years before humans will cross the seas in anything that is not propelled by the breath of the wind or the arms of man.
The water is so clear that someone looking down can see fish swimming many feet below them as clearly as if they were just out of reach.
And what's that in the depths?
A glimmer appears and disappears in the blink of an eye.
It is the only visible hint that, leagues beneath the sea, there stands a great lost city.
The sleek grey body of a dolphin glides through the sea and dives deeper.
This is no ordinary dolphin.
He bears a sacred duty, honor-bound to be a messenger for the lord of these waves.
Deeper, the dolphin dives and the water around him shifts from light blue to the rich sapphire of the depths.
From the darkness, a structure starts to emerge.
At first, it appears to be a great mound with many lumps and crevices.
As the dolphin draws nearer, the form of a citadel sharpens.
Turrets, towers and spires crown its head, while innumerable bridges, pathways and lanes connect the various dome structures of the city.
This place looks as though it has been pieced together from shells, pearls and coral.
It has the look of being grown rather than constructed like a coral reef.
It is as colourful as a reef, with every bright shade of the rainbow represented against the dark blue background of the sea.
The pale sunlight from the surface filters down to dapple this sea palace.
Sea creatures dart here and there, but the true residents of this place are the otherworldly Oceanids and Nereids.
The Oceanids number over 3,000, and are the children of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys.
There are over 50 Nereids, all of whom are daughters of the Oceanid, Doris and Nereus, also known as the Old Man of the Sea.
These sea nymphs and minor deities make this fallen city their home, though it was once a place where humankind lived.
Beneath the coral, shells and palls are the bones of a city called Atlantis.
The humans of this floating city were foolish and did not properly honor the sea or its ruler, to whom they owed much.
As a result, the city was dragged to the bottom of the ocean and taken as the home of Poseidon.
Poseidon is the god of the sea and storms, earthquakes and tidal waves.
It was with one huge wave that he claimed Atlantis.
Now, many hundreds of years later, he makes his home there.
The dolphin darts through the city.
He glides over mosaic-lined buildings and past algae-covered windows.
At the heart of the city is the palace, an ornate building that rises from the floor of the ocean all the way to the tallest spire.
The dolphin swims gracefully through the front doors of the palace and directly into the cavernous great hall.
The floor is tiled in the pattern of a great wave and lit by a beam of light filtering down from the huge domed roof.
Coral and sea plants grow from cracks in the walls, and a few small colorful fish drift lazily through the water, oblivious to the royal surroundings.
At one end of the huge hall sits a raised dais and two thrones.
The thrones glimmer gently and seem to glow with a soft radiance.
They are embedded with pearls, abalone shells and bright stones.
Light blue, pinks, purples, and a silvery sheen meld into a swirling pattern on each stately chair.
The thrones themselves are nothing in comparison to the two figures sitting upon them regally.
On the left is Amphitrite, consort to Poseidon.
She is a Nereid and considered to be the most beautiful of her numerous siblings.
Her long hair billows out around her in the water.
It almost appears to be an extension of the golden crown she wears.
On the right sits the god of the seas and ocean, Poseidon.
It is not difficult to tell that he is a brother of Zeus.
They both have the same godly bearing, though Zeus reigns in the sky and Poseidon below the waves.
In one hand, he holds a huge trident, and with his other, the hand of his wife.
He is known as the Earthshaker and the Wavebringer, a power which he alone possesses.
Poseidon draws his gaze to the dolphin as it approaches, hoping that it comes with the news that he has been waiting for.
Poseidon translates the cheerful chirps and whistles that emanate from the dolphin.
As he listens, a grin breaks out across his face.
He looks at Amphitrite, searching her lovely eyes for the silent confirmation that what he is hearing is true.
He finds her smiling back at him, her gaze saying so much more than her words ever could.
Poseidon thanks the dolphin for his help and readies himself for a journey.
Amphitrite watches as he issues commands to nymphs, demigods and sea creatures in preparation for his task.
They have been together now for many years and she still remembers the brash young god that she fell in love with.
He had just assumed control of the seas, and came to see her father Nereus to form an alliance.
The old man of the sea welcomed Poseidon and sat with him in council for many hours.
Amphrodite doesn't know for how long they sat talking, because she was enraptured by the sight of this young god.
She kept hidden during the meeting between Poseidon and her father, knowing that if the young god's gaze were to fall on her and not light up with the same force of love that she felt, she would not be able to bear it.
It was only when Poseidon readied himself to leave and was shaking her father's hand that he finally saw her.
She had tried to hide in the crowd of her dozens of siblings.
As if by fate, however, Poseidon's eyes met hers and there was no going back.
Nereus, having seen more of life and the cosmos than either Amphitrite or Poseidon, knew at once what had happened.
He gladly gave his blessing to the two young lovers.
Even now, after all these years, Amphitrite still feels a rush of giddiness at the sight of her husband.
Sometimes she cannot believe that her fate has brought her here.
The swish of water next to her brings Amphitrite out of her reverie.
Her young son, Triton, swims gracefully to his father's side.
The young godling is not much more than a boy.
Being the divine son of a sea nymph and the god of the seas, Triton is a merperson.
His powerful tail is covered in glittering scales which toss tiny rainbows across the hall as he approaches his father.
Poseidon smiles at the godling, knowing that his son will beg once again to join his father.
Poseidon promises that once the boy is older, he will have plenty of adventures.
Triton accepts his father's words and floats gently into his mother's arms.
Together they watch Poseidon make his final preparations.
Eventually ready to leave, Poseidon turns to his family.
He folds them into his arms and wishes them a very fond farewell.
Before they part, Poseidon whispers to Triton that when he returns, he shall bring his son the greatest treasure he can imagine a brother.
With his final word lighting up Triton's face, Poseidon leaves.
He travels swiftly to the surface, breaking through the water with an almighty splash and sending glittering droplets flying through the afternoon sunshine.
After the cool depths of the ocean, the feel of the warm summer air is like being wrapped in a sun-soaked blanket.
Poseidon takes a moment to appreciate the heat of the sun and the caress of the wind before turning his attention to his destination.
It has been a long while since he spent a considerable amount of time on land, and this visit is rather overdue.
Poseidon, as the lord of water, moves best when in the form of a current.
He relaxes his body, allowing his human-like form to melt into the strong flow of water.
Poseidon becomes one with the water around him.
He can feel the mood, the tides and the motion of the sea as he taps into this water that connects everything on the planet.
He gathers himself into a current and presses towards his destination.
As he travels, Poseidon checks on the health and state of the oceans.
He feels the deep rumbling of a sea battle near Sicily and senses the soft lapping waves on the shores of Cyprus.
In no time at all, Poseidon finds himself stepping out of the water and onto the beaches of Greece.
A man-like form once again.
He walks up the beach feeling the comfort of warm sand beneath him, molding to his feet with every step.
A whinny brings his attention from the pearly beach to the only other figure on the shore.
A huge dappled grey horse stands watching Poseidon, its silvery mane flowing in the soft breeze.
The creature waits for Poseidon to approach with gentle eyes.
Poseidon reaches out and places his hand on the velvety muzzle of Arion, the very first horse.
Many years ago, when Poseidon was still courting Amphitrite, he brought Arion to life.
The young god at the time was flustered and tongue-tied whenever he found himself in Amphitrite's presence.
Her father, Nereus, had made it very clear that he approved of the match.
But Poseidon feared that it wouldn't come to pass because of his inability to tell Amphitrite all the things he felt when he looked at her.
Determined to find a way to express his love, Poseidon set about creating something to give to her.
He and his siblings are all grandchildren of Gaia, the primordial goddess of the earth.
As a result, the power of creation resides in them all.
Poseidon was determined to create a creature for Amphitrite and win her affection.
He knew that she had lived her entire life in the sea, surrounded by the vast array of beautiful and fantastical creatures found there.
From seals and whales to colorful fish of all sizes, Amphitrite was used to the wonders of the ocean.
Poseidon decided to create her an animal of the earth, something that would be her companion when she decided to come up above the waves.
In addition to the practical task of carrying her across the land, Poseidon also wanted this creature to be beautiful, for he saw Amphitrite as the most beautiful being to have graced existence.
Poseidon's work took him months and months.
He started and restarted many times, desperately wanting to find the perfect balance between grace power beauty, utility and gentleness.
Finally, he knew he had struck upon the perfect animal.
He breathed life into Arion, and watched as the foal took its first shaky steps before him.
The little animal had pressed his wet nose into Poseidon's hand in much the same way that the adult Arion was doing now.
Poseidon looks into the dark brown eyes of the adult horse and smiles.
He climbs gracefully onto his back, and together they set off for a human city.
Though Arian appears to be cantering at a leisurely pace, he covers a surprising amount of ground.
They travel away from the coast and through the thick wild forests towards the ancient city of Corinth.
Poseidon makes himself and Arion invisible to mortal eyes, not wanting to be distracted or waylaid on his journey.
Their presence is neither seen nor felt by the residents of the ancient Grecian wilderness.
Large stags with many-pronged antlers do not even turn an ear towards the pair.
They continue to graze.
Colonies of rabbits remain unbothered by the passing god.
Flocks of blackbirds and songbirds alike remain perched, seeing no reason to take flight.
They draw closer to Corinth, and Poseidon returns his attention to the task at hand.
He has come to this city with a specific purpose.
Many years ago, Poseidon gave a mortal king called Glaucus an immense responsibility and honor.
The god of the seas gave him a son to foster.
The boy, called Bellerophon, grew up like a normal human child.
The only sign of his godly parentage was his uncanny ability to charm any horse he met.
Even the wildest, most untamable stallion would quiet under Bellerophon's gentle hands.
Poseidon watched him grow up from afar. proud beyond words of his human son.
Now that Bellerophon is reaching manhood, Poseidon has devised several tests for the youthful boy.
He wants to discover if this son has what it takes to join his immortal family.
The first test involves another of Poseidon's sons, though this one is not human or even part human.
Pegasus is a pearly white horse.
He is as strong and powerful as he is lovely.
He is also unique because from his back spring two huge white wings.
Pegasus is the only one of his kind and is a divine creature in his own right.
Normally, he is very skittish around humans.
He is well aware of their desire to tame, control, and bridle him.
Poseidon has instructed him to appear to Bellerophon nonetheless.
If the youth can earn the trust of Pegasus, he will pass the first test.
Arion brings Poseidon to the woods just outside the city of Corinth, and the sea god gracefully dismounts.
He allows Arion to wander off to a nearby meadow so he can graze.
Poseidon remains invisible, waiting for the arrival of his sons.
The breeze ruffles the leaves of the trees, creating a whispering calm in the woods.
The soft noise almost completely masks the sound of hooves padding gently through the forest.
Through the layers of greens and browns, something brilliantly white approaches.
The soft hoofbeats are coupled with the rustle of huge wings.
At first, Pegasus appears only as streaks of white, before emerging in all his glory in the place where Poseidon is waiting.
Poseidon briefly places a hand on Pegasus' flank.
His coat is softer than velvet, and a deep warmth radiates from his skin.
Poseidon removes his hand and steps deeper into the woods as another sound breaks through the silence.
Bellerophon slowly approaches.
He is a boy of 16, but already as tall as his father.
His eyes are glued to Pegasus and wide with wonder.
He stops, allowing Pegasus to get a good look at him before approaching further.
What passes between boy and winged horse is something truly divine.
They seem to be able to communicate and understand one another without words.
Poseidon watches as Bellerophon reaches out a hand and calmly rubs the nose of Pegasus.
Slowly, the boy comes to the winged horse and gracefully climbs onto his back.
They remain there for a long moment before Poseidon makes himself visible.
Poseidon explains to Bellerophon about his true parentage and about Pegasus.
The teenager takes the news remarkably well, though he can't hide the rush of color and excitement that floods his features.
He listens eagerly to everything Poseidon has to say, never once interrupting or disbelieving.
Poseidon tells Bellerophon that if he can complete the next challenge, he'll be rewarded with the opportunity to gain immortality and live in the underwater palace of Atlantis.
He will be able to meet his other divine siblings, cousins, and extended family.
The words are barely out of Poseidon's mouth when Bellerophon agrees.
He promises to make his father proud and earn his place amongst the gods.
Poseidon relays, the place where Bellerophon will find the Chimera, a fearsome creature that is terrorizing the land.
The beast has the body of a lion, the tail of a snake and the head of a goat protruding from its back.
To round off the monstrosity, it breathes fire.
As Poseidon reveals this information to Bellerophon, he watches the expression on his son's face.
The young man's eyes betray fear at first, but quickly change to determination.
Eager to begin his adventure, Bellerophon turns Pegasus to leave.
But Poseidon stops him.
He has Bellerophon and Pegasus follow him through the woods for a short while.
The sound of their footsteps is accompanied by the orchestra of the forest birds sing, the wind whistles and the sound of rushing water grows nearby.
Poseidon leads his two sons to the banks of a clear stream.
The sound of water flowing over the rocks is so lovely it could have been mistaken for strange music.
No sooner have they approached than a figure draws itself out of the stream.
This nymph is one of the Potomides, a class of naiad or freshwater nymph that specifically looks after streams and rivers.
She has the appearance of a stream come to life, as though she is made of liquid glass.
Her long hair flows around her, always tugging downstream.
Poseidon nods to the Nyad, and she begins a ritual.
Singing softly, she blesses both Bellerophon and Pegasus and wipes a cool hand over their brows, allowing a few drops of her stream to trickle down their faces.
She grants them safety and protection on their difficult journey and tells them that water will forever be their friend.
With her final words, the nymph flows smoothly back into the stream.
Bellerophon and Pegasus are now ready to leave.
Poseidon wishes them well and tells them to meet him on a certain stretch of beach far to the west, if they have been successful in their task.
He watches as Pegasus begins to trot and then canter, building up speed until he spreads his great wings and gallops into the sky.
Poseidon calls Arion once again and makes his way to the meeting spot.
He doesn't know how long it will take Bellerophon and Pegasus to complete their mission.
Arion knows where to go, and Poseidon doesn't need to pay attention to his surroundings.
Nevertheless, the scent on the air lets him know that they are once again approaching the coast.
The sharp smell of salt awakens him and he feels that familiar draw, a yearning for home that comes about when he is near the sea.
It isn't long before the sound of the surf greets him as well.
When that sound hits his ears it's as if the tension and stress he didn't know he was holding in his body.
