Favrite Greak myths!

The chariot of the sun god!

Favorite Greek myths!

        Chariot of the sun god (the story of Phaeton and Helios)
Haeton entered the gleaming palace of the sun god and walked to the throne room. He stopped at the doorway, blinded by the radiance of Helios (the sun god) who wore a purple robe and sat high on a throne of emeralds. Around Helios stood his attendants, whose names were Day, Month, Year, Century, Hours, spring, summer, autumn, and Winter.
        ‘’Come to me, my boy,’’ said Helios, Phaeton stepped forward and bowed his head to shield his eyes from the sun light. Then he kneeled before the throne.
        ‘’What brings you to seek your father?’’ asked Helios ‘’I came to get your promise that I’m really your sun,’’ Phaeton answered. ‘’The boys at school laugh at me and say I’m not, but my mother always said my father is the sun.’’ ‘’Clymene is right,’’ said Helios. ‘’The nymph Clymene had a child by me, and it was you. To prove I’m your father, I’ll give you anything you ask. I swear it by Styx, the river of oaths.’’ ‘’father, I’ve only one wish. I want to do what you do early each morning. I want to drive your fiery chariot alone across the sky and turn night into day.’’ ‘’Oh no! I cannot allow you to do that!’’ cried Helios. ‘’But you promised_’’ ‘’I spoke too rashly! Please, may the gods allow me to take back my promise!’’ cried Helios ‘’It’s too late, father!’’ said Phaeton.
        ‘’But this is the one wish I cannot grant, my son! The trip is too dangerous. Even Jupiter greatest of all the gods cannot drive my winged horses! They’re hot with fire!’’ ‘’I can drive them, father. If I’m really your son.’’ ‘’No! You can’t! How can you fight the spin of the world? How can you fight the wild beasts and terrible monsters?’’ ‘’I know I can do what you can do, father,’’ he said.
        The sun god tried to stall for time, but the goddess Dawn was coming to quickly upon the palace; it was time for Helios’s fiery chariot to begin its daily course across the sky. Helios and Phaeton stepped out into the cool air where the chariot waited. ‘’I most leave now, father’’ As Phaeton wheeled off course, Phaetons sunbeams warmed the constellation: The snake stirred from its icy numbness. The great bear woke in a rage and began lumbering about the heavens. Phaeton looked below, and when he realized how far away the earth was he became sick with fright, the earth was burning. Mother earth cried out to Jupiter, ‘’hurl your lightning bolts now and end this fiery death caused by Phaeton!’’  Jupiter saw that mother earth was dying; Jupiter flung the lightning bolt throw the air hitting the wheel of the chariot.
        Phaeton fell from the sky, his hair was on fire, and Phaeton fell into a river. The river god held Phaeton, smoldering body and bathed his burning face. Then the water nymphs buried Phaeton; and on his tomb, they wrote: ‘’Here lies Phaeton who tried to be the sun. Greatly he failed, but greatly he dared.’’