Sam McCrone, age 13, of Davenport, Iowa, for his question:

WHO WAS THE GOD NEPTUNE?

In Roman mythology, Neptune was the god of the sea. In addition, Neptune was also the god of storms and earthquakes, the creator of horses and the patron of horse races. His Greek name was Poseidon.

Neptune joined his two brothers Jupiter and Pluto in overthrowing their father, Saturn. Then the three brothers divided up the universe among themselves: Jupiter becoming lord of the heavens, Neptune lord of the oceans and Pluto lord of the underworld.

Neptune fell in love with a sea nymph named Amphitrite, who tried to run away. Neptune followed, riding on a dolphin. When Amphitrite agreed to marry him, Neptune rewarded the dolphin by turning it into a star.

Neptune and his bride lived in a golden palace at the bottom of the ocean. When he traveled, his chariot was pulled by sea horses. As he rode across the seas, the stormy waters would turn smooth and calm.