Poseidon’s trident tip emerges from Türkiye’s Lake Iznik
A spearhead, claimed to belong to the Roman era and known as Poseidon's trident, has been discovered in the lake of Iznik, the world-famous historical city of Bursa, Türkiye, April 26, 2025. (IHA Photo)
In a remarkable discovery, a fisherman in Iznik (historically known as Nicaea), the world-renowned historic town in Bursa, Türkiye, found what is believed to be the tip of Poseidon’s trident while fishing in Lake Iznik.
The spearhead, caught in a fishing net, has been handed over to the local museum authorities for further examination. Experts suggest that the artifact may date back to the Roman period.
Uncovering history at dawn
Early in the morning, Osman Erim, a local fisherman from the village of Golluce in Iznik, cast his nets into Lake Iznik with friends in search of silverfish. While inspecting their catch, Erim noticed an unusual object entangled among the fish.
Realizing the potential historical value of the item, Erim promptly contacted museum officials to deliver the artifact safely.
Speaking about the discovery, Erim said, “We set out early in the morning and threw the nets for silverfish. Among the fish, we found an object resembling a spear. Thinking it might be a historical artifact, I decided to hand it over to the authorities.”
The legend of Poseidon’s trident
In Greek mythology, the three-pronged spear known as the Trident is associated with Poseidon, the ruler of the sea, horses, and earthquakes.
Poseidon would strike the earth with his trident to create springs, stir the seas into storms, trigger tsunamis, and even give birth to new islands.
The Roman counterpart to Poseidon, Neptune, also wields a similar three-pronged weapon. Furthermore, Hindu mythology features a comparable symbol, the Trishula, a trident wielded by the deity Shiva, representing the destruction of evil and ignorance.
According to mythological accounts, Poseidon received his iconic weapon from the Telchines — mythical sea creatures and blacksmiths believed to hail from Rhodes, themselves children of Pontus and Gaia or Tartarus and Nemesis.
An ancient mystery beneath Lake Iznik
The discovery of the trident tip has sparked excitement among historians and archaeologists, who now eagerly await detailed analysis.
Lake Iznik, already known for its submerged Byzantine basilica and rich layers of history, continues to reveal new secrets hidden beneath its waters.
Experts hope that this latest find will shed new light on the region’s Roman past and perhaps even unlock further connections between ancient mythology and the real world.
