![]() He was literally in cloud nine and all his doubts about his father disappeared. Phaethon could feel the sheer power that flowed through the reins. Grossly underestimating the skill and focus that was needed to ride such a powerful chariot as the sun god’s, Phaethon quickly entered the chariot and took hold of the reins. None of that could quench Phaethon’s desire to possess for a day a power far greater than himself. Helios told Phaethon that operating the chariot was so difficult that not even Zeus (Roman Jupiter), king of the Greek gods, could properly steer the chariot on its precise path in the skies. He had tried his best to talk him out of it. Helios reluctantly allows Phaethon to drive his chariot. A chariot so powerful not even Zeus could drive it Therefore, preparations were made for Phaethon to ride the chariot for a day. Bound by his promise to Phaethon, Helios could not say no. However, the young man insisted on riding the fire breathing horse-drawn chariot of the sun god. Helios explained to Phaethon how difficult a task it is to ride the chariot, and that it needed very careful control and focus in order to keep the sun in its precise path, least the earth either got scorched or got too cold. Helios pleaded with Phaethon, but to no avail. It was in that moment Phaethon conceived of an idea: he reasoned that by driving Helios’ powerful sun chariot for one day he would at least be able to convince himself that Helios was indeed his father. Helios, the Greek god of the sun, is famed for driving his four-horse fiery chariot across the skies everyday | Image: Helios in his chariot, early 4th century BC, Athena’s temple, Ilion The sun god hoped that this kind gesture was enough to remove all doubts in the young man. When Phaethon confronted Helios about the issue of his birth, the sun god promised to give Phaethon whatever he wanted. Phaethon went on a wild adventure until he finally made it to the Helios’ amazing palace in the east. Clymene then asked him to head towards the east and find out from Helios himself. Phaethon still did not believe his mother’s words. With absolute conviction, Clymene told Phaethon that he was truly the son of the sun god. Epaphus told Phaethon that his mother had lied about who his father was.ĭistraught by Epaphus’ words, Phaethon went back to his mother, Clymene, in order to get her to assure him about his birth. Epaphus decided to play a psychological game on the young and slightly arrogant son of the sun god as he had grown tired of hearing Phaethon ramble on and on about his divine father. Being the son of the powerful sun god, the young Phaethon took immense pride from his birth story.īy sheer coincidence, Phaethon lived in the same city as Epaphus, one of the numerous sons of Zeus, the sky god and chief of the Olympians. Growing up, Phaethon constantly heard stories from his mother about his father, the sun god Helios.
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