The Talisman of Mystical Atlantis

The god of the sea floundered in his underwater palace off the coast of Greece. A burning sensation in his stomach came as he sneered at the thought of his brother Zeus, the god of the sky. Zeus was elevated to the chief deity of ancient Greece. His father Cronos, god of time, had the brothers draw lots to see who the supreme ruler would be. He lost.

Then a battle of the Olympians, brothers, and sisters took sides in a fight to destroy their father for his power. They waged war for ten years. Zeus and Poseidon were on opposite sides. When it was all over, Poseidon failed. For his punishment, he was ordered by his brother’s vengeance to build the wall around Troy. Once close kin, Poseidon sulked. Why did he always lose to his brother?

With a flip of his golden ten-foot trident, the eight-foot Greek god left his wife goddess of the sea, Amphitrite, and stronghold to swim to the ocean surface. Frustrated, he drew back his arm and threw a giant lightning bolt across the wide-open azure sky.

Tears streaming down his face, floating on his back and arms behind his head in the tranquil sea. A pain came across his chest. Poseidon felt powerless. He stared at the lightning bolt as the flash reverberated across the blue sky. A pod of playful dolphins gathered around their master. In a dark mood, Poseidon thought of revenge, but knew it was hopeless. He spoke.

“Let us leave this place, of family, for I feel doomed here.”

A gift from the elder Cyclopes and used to spear fish in the sea, Poseidon tucked his golden trident into his cloak of seaweed and swam west. Pods of dolphins took turns following him as he wandered to a far, far corner of the globe.

One day, the god of the sea swam up to the top of the ocean. In the distance, as he scanned the horizon, he saw a large land mass with a glowing aura of light. Curious, he investigated. As he reeled onto the shore, the air greeted him warmly, lighter. He felt lifted, more buoyant. The foliage grew to an enormous size. The island seemed otherworldly, an earthly paradise.

On the sandy shore was a young maiden dressed in a simple white smock with long golden hair humming a tune while she strolled along the sandy shore picking seashells. 

Poseidon watched the radiant girl. He had not seen a mortal in a long time. Her innocence caught his heart. Razing his eyebrows, he wondered who this beautiful creature was. Smitten, a lighthearted feeling, sent tingles all over his body.

Cleito glanced up from her water treasures when she heard the splash of water. Coming toward her was a tall burly man with thick black wavy hair flowing over his shoulders, covered in seaweed. Startled, she dropped her seashells and drew backward.

As the sea god came near the young woman, Poseidon gazed into the youthful girl’s blue eyes. Gently, in a soft tone, his large hands open, he spoke.

“Please do not be afraid. I want to know your name. What is this place you live in? It’s so glorious.”

The young woman looked up to see the stranger. Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement. She smiled at the curious creature in front of her and spoke.

“My name is Cleito. I live here with my parents, Euenor and Leucippus. Let me take you to my home. On the way, I can show you our enchanted land.”

The legend of Atlantis began.