PHAËTHON

• Gods of the Sun. The titan HYPERION, god of the sun, was father of HELIOS, also a god of the sun.

• Later the god APOLLO became a god of the sun as well.

• The sun-god dwells in the East, crosses the dome of the sky in his chariot drawn by a team of four horses, descends in the West into the stream of Oceanus, which encircles the earth, and then sails back to the East to begin a new day.

• The Son of a Sun-God. PHAËTHON, son of the sun-god Helios by one of his mistresses, Clymene. According to Ovid’s account, Phaëthon was challenged by the accusation that the Sun was not his real father at all.

• His mother, Clymene, however, swore to him that he was truly the child of Helios and told him that he should, if he so desired, ask his father, the god himself.

Gustave Moreau (1826-1898)

• Ovid describes in glowing terms the magnificent palace of the Sun, with its towering columns, gleaming with gold and polished ivory.

• Phaëthon, awed by the grandeur, is prevented from coming too close to the god because of his radiance.

• Helios, however, confirms Clymene’s account of Phaëthon’s parentage, lays aside the rays that shine around his head, and orders his son to approach.

• He embraces him and promises on an oath sworn by the Styx that the boy may have any gift that he likes so that he may dispel his doubts once and for all.

• Phaëthon quickly and decisively asks that he be allowed to drive his father’s chariot for one day.

• Helios tries to talk him out of it by telling him that not even Zeus would dare to drive it, as the chariot was fiery hot and the horses breathed out flames. Phaeton is adamant.

• He reluctantly leads the youth to his chariot, fashioned exquisitely by Vulcan, of gold, silver, and jewels that reflect the brilliant light of the god. The chariot is yoked; Helios anoints his son’s face as protection against the flames, places the rays on his head, and with heavy heart advises him on his course and the management of the horses.

• Phaëthon, young and inexperienced, is unable to control the four winged horses that speed from their usual path. The chariot races to the heights of heaven, creating havoc by the intensity of the heat, then hurtles down to earth. Ovid delights in his description of the destruction:

• "...consider what impetuous force Turns stars and planets in a diff'rent course. I steer against their motions; nor am I born back by all the current of the sky. But how cou'd you resist the orbs that roll in adverse whirls, and stem the rapid pole?"

• First it veered too high, so that the earth grew chill. Then it dipped too

close, and the vegetation dried and burned. He accidentally turned most of Africa into desert; bringing the blood of the Ethiopians to the surface of their skin, turning it black.

• "The running conflagration spreads below. But these are trivial ills: whole cities burn, And peopled kingdoms into ashes turn."

• Rivers and lakes began to dry up, Poseidon rose out of the sea and waved his trident in anger at the sun, but soon the heat became even too great for him and he dove to the bottom of the sea.

• Zeus, in answer to earth’s prayer hurls his thunder and lightning and shatters the chariot, dashing Phaëthon to his death.

• The river Eridanus receives and bathes him, and nymphs bury him with the following inscription upon his tomb: "Here Phaëthon lies who drove the Sun-god's car. Greatly he failed, but greatly he dared."

Michelangelo