Introduction

A Roman Mosaic on the floor of a banquet hall, dating to the 1st century AD at Zugma in modern-day Turkey, shows the three primary attributes associated with Poseidon's iconographic tradition. First, there are fish all around him, representing his role as the god of the sea. In his hand, he is holding a trident, which is a three-pronged fishing spear. Thirdly, he is riding on top of the waves by a chariot pulled by horses. These two wild animals reveal his violent and impetuous qualities before his dominance over the seas was firmly established.