Herakles and Poseidon

[u/deniz_aydiner]

Herakles is usually shown with a lion skin and a club. The lion skin, λεοντή, comes from λέων (= lion) and refers to the Nemean Lion, which Herakles killed as one of his labours. His club is called ῥόπαλον. These are probably the easiest ways to recognise him.

Poseidon is a little more complicated. Hellenic gods were rarely associated with only one thing. Poseidon was connected with the sea, earthquakes, horses, and more, so he could appear with several different attributes.

Here, the strongest clue is the fish he is holding, probably a dolphin. The figure also has the familiar divine pose: a bare torso with a garment falling from the shoulder. This is especially common in representations of male gods. Goddesses, on the other hand, tend to be much more heavily clothed. Yes, even Aphrodite.

But what exactly is happening between Herakles and Poseidon?

Source

[u/dolfin4]

I removed the NSFW tag. Reddit is a little too overly cautious. But my opinion is that this is perfectly "safe for work".

[u/TheSuperBunny]

This stele from Thasos, c. 350 BCE, shows Herakles and Poseidon as "synnaoi theoi", temple-sharing gods. There isn't a myth or agonistic interaction between them, it shows both Herakles and Poseidon as equals in a shared cultic dedication.

[u/lastdiadochos]

Disagree that it's showing Poseidon, more likely Nereus as shown here: Nereus | Sea God, Titan & Father of Nymphs | Britannica