Neptune was the name that the Romans gave to the Greek God of the Sea and earthquakes, Poseidon. He was the brother of Jupiter and together with their third brother Pluto they overthrew their father Saturn.

After the defeat Saturn, the three brothers divided the world into three parts to be ruled each by one of the three. Jupiter took the sky, Neptune the sea and Pluto the underworld.

Neptune had the reputation of having a violent temper. Tempests and earthquakes were a reflection of his furious rage. He was depicted as a bearded man, holding a trident and seated in a sheashell drawn by sea horses.

One day Neptune saw the water nymph Amphitrite dancing in the island of Naxos and fell in love with her. He asked her to marry him but she refused. Undaunted by her refusal, Neptune sent one of his servants, a dolphin, to look for her. The dolphin pleaded Neptune's cause and she changed her mind. As a reward, Neptune immortalised the dolphin in the constellation of Dolphinus.

Neptune and Amphitrite had several children. Among them was Triton whose name was given to the principle moon of the planet Neptune.