American Toby Jug Museum 

Neptune majolica wall pocket produced by Sarreguemines of Lorraine, France, circa 1910. Neptune was originally the Roman god of fresh water, but he then came to be associated with the Greek god, Poseidon. After his father, Saturn, had been deposed, he became a deity of the seas and rivers. This powerful god was said to dwell in a golden underwater palace with his wife, Amphitrite, and when he appeared he was seen in a chariot drawn by sea horses or riding on the back of a dolphin. In his hand he carried the trident, symbol of his might, with which he could stir up or calm the waters of the sea and strike the earth to bring forth fountains and springs. He was also regarded as the creator of horses and the patron of horse races. An annual two-day Roman religious festival, the Neptunalia, took place in his honor on July 23 in the heat of the summer.