Here is a Greek myth, the lesson of which is valid even today.
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| Helios |
Phaethon was the son of the Greek Sun God Helios* and Clymene, a mortal from Ethiopia. Since Helios had a tough job
of driving the sun from across one end to the other every day in his chariot,
Phaethon stayed with his mother on earth. Once one of his friends laughed at
him when he said that he was the son of Helios and refused to believe him.
Later his mother too assured him about it, but he would not believe. His doubt
took him to the heavens where he found himself in the presence of the mighty
Helios who was bright and radiant, and so was his palace with lofty pillars of
gold and bronze, all shining like burning fire.
When Phaethon asked Helios if he was really his father, Helios
agreed and assured him about it. Helios went a step further by announcing to
all in his palace that Phaethon was indeed his son. Seeing that the son had not
quite been assured, Helios told Phaethon that he was willing to do anything to
prove his paternity and to that effect, he can ask for anything from him, and
he would do it.
On hearing this, Phaethon asked to drive his father’s chariot for a
day. Helios realised that he had erred and tried to convince him out of his
demand. He explained to him that the chariot was no ordinary chariot as it was
fiery hot and the horses breathed fire, so much so that even Zeus, the king of
all gods, could not control the chariot. But Phaethon would not relent, and
having made a commitment, Helios could not go back on his word, even though he
realised his folly of hasty commitment. So with a heavy heart, he allowed him
to take the chariot out the next day.
The chariot was truly majestic. It had axle and pole made of gold
and so were the wheels of gold with silver spokes. The yoke was set with jewels
and the horses which were fed on ambrosia were breathing fire ready to charge.
Helios applied an ointment on Phaethon to protect him from the intense heat
that he would be subjected and advised him to tread the middle path and not to
drive it too low towards the earth or high towards the sky. As night had
retreated on the Western end and dawn was breaking in and it was time for the
sun to appear on the horizon and so Helios bade his son, goodbye.
Phaethon took hold of the reins and charged. But this was no
ordinary chariot and nor was he used to holding such heavenly horses. Soon the
chariot was beginning to get out of control. It went too high towards the
skies, drying up all the clouds. Seeing this, he plunged the chariot down
towards the seas, but it only ended up drying the waters. When Poseidon, the
Lord of the seas, saw this, he came out to warn the charioteer, but the
uncontrolled charge towards him made him plunge deep into the sea, with
casualties of dead sea-creatures which upset him to no end. The chariot burnt
up forests, melt down ice-capped mountains and it is said that it went too close
to modern-day Ethiopia (supposedly to have his friend get a closer look of him
on the chariot), the people there became black, since the heat drew the blood
to the surface of the body of the people there. It is also said that it went so
close to the modern-day Libya that the area became a desert and the river Nile
was so scared that it went and hid its head in the earth which is hidden till
date!
Earth was in flames, the waters had dried up and sky was scorched.
The gods came out and appealed to Zeus to stop the menace. Zeus seeing no option
hurled his thunderbolt and brought down the chariot and the charioteer to the
ground and soon all was well, but Helios lost his son. Helios was sad, but he
realised his folly too.
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| The Fall of Phaethon - A Painting |
The myth leaves us with a very important lesson. Helios shouldn’t
have made a promise, without thinking about its ramifications. Also, he should
not have allowed his responsibility to become a juveniles sport. Driving the
chariot across the sky was an important responsibility and Phaethon was neither
experienced nor capable of handling it. He was too young to even understand the
gravity of his father’s responsibility which for him was a matter of adventure,
or misadventure as it turned out to be.
I find this myth so contemporary when I read about underage children
driving their parents’ vehicles irresponsibly leaving a trail of tragedy behind
them, when they are unable to control the vehicle. Myths of this nature
highlight the repercussions of granting a child’s wish too hastily without
giving it forethought. It also highlights that one shouldn’t abdicate ones
responsibility in favour of parental affection.
To quote Joseph Campbell, the well known author – “This tale (i.e.
the tale of Phaethon) of indulgent parenthood illustrates the antique idea that
when the roles of life are assumed by the improperly initiated, chaos
supervenes”.
*Different versions of this myth have used the names Phoebus and at
times Apollo in place of Helios. The other details remain more or less the
same.
All Pics taken from Internet.
