The Chariot of the Sun was said to have blazed a gash in the skies which supposedly became the Milky Way, a spiral galaxy. When the horses realized the weakness and inexperience of their young charioteer, they began to steer a wild and dangerous course. He found himself utterly powerless to control the fiery horses. Helios rubbed an expression of power and arrogance on his son's face.Īs soon as he took off, Phaethon realized that he had taken on more than he could handle. He advised Phaethon to steer the Chariot through a middle course and not to go too high or too low. A helpless Helios tried to warn his son for the dangers involved in driving the Chariot with its fiery horses which even the great god himself had found it difficult to control on many occasions. Wanting to drive the awesome Chariot of the Sun was one thing, but to actually do it was not as simple as our naive Phaethon had imagined. The god of the Sun could do nothing else but to give in. The boy insisted that Helios kept his promise. Helios used all his persuasive skills to plead the rash Phaethon to withdraw his outrageous demand, but to no avail. Unfortunately, once the gods had promised a favour, they could not withdraw or deny it. That onerous task was reserved solely for him, god Helios.
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He tried to explain to his son that even the mighty Zeus could not presume to drive the Chariot of the Sun, much less a mere mortal. Helios was fearful at his son's irrational request. The rash boy asked to be allowed to drive the awesome Chariot of the Sun for one day. Phaethon, happy because great Helios had recognized him as his son, decided to test the limits of his father's love and benevolence. In fact, he declared, in the presence of all his attendants, that he will gladly grant his son any favour that he would ask him. Helios got deeply moved and firmly affirmed Phaethon's paternity and legitimacy. He pleaded Helios to recognize him as his son and establish beyond all doubt the legitimacy of his birth. Phaethon told Helios about the humiliation he had to suffer because of the imputation of illegitimacy. His other attendants included Spring, bedecked with flowers, Summer, with a garland of spear-like ripened grains, Autumn, with feet reddened with grape juice and Winter, with hoar-frost in his hair. Inside the luxurious palace of HeliosĪmazed with all the luxury he had faced, Phaethon came into the august presence of his reputed father, Helios, sitting on a diamond-studded throne surrounded by the presences of the Day, the Month, the Year, and the Hour. Phaethon watched with awe the exquisite representation of the earth, the sea and sky on the walls of the palace. The palace was supported by massive columns adorned with glittering gold and precious stones, while the ceilings and doors were made with polished ivory and silver. His eyes were almost blinded by the dazzle of the light all around him.
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When he reached the palace of Helios, he was astonished at its magnificence and luxury. Clymene assured her son that he was indeed the son of the great god Helios and sent him on his way to the palace of his father to establish his legitimacy.Ī delighted and hopeful Phaethon travelled to India, as there was the palace of his father who was supposed to begin every day his course from the East. In tears, Phaethon went to his mother and demanded proof of his paternity. One day, a school-mate of Phaethon laughede at his claim that he was the son of a god and said he didn't believe him. He was responsible to drive the horse chariot with the Sun from the one side to the Earth to the other during the daytime. However, he was living only with his mother as his father had a difficult task to perform. Discover the myth of Phaethon and the Sun Chariot Looking for his fatherĪccording to the Greek Mythology, Phaethon, whose name means "shining", was the son of the Sun-God Helios and a mortal woman, Clymene. However, as he was young and inexperienced, he lost control of the horses and got killed. Phaethon was the son the god Helios who secretly took the chariot one day to drive it. According to the ancient myths, the Sun was put in a chariot and everyday God Helios would drive the chariot all along the sky.