Zeus asked Poseidon and Athena to each present a gift to the citizens of the city. Whoever's gift won the people's hearts would become the city's patron deity. Both deities found this method feasible and were confident they would win, so they readily agreed to the proposal and prepared their gifts for the citizens.

On Poseidon's side, he was not only the lord of the sea but also the god who managed all fine horses in the world. In his view, there was nothing more sincere ...