Myth
After thousands of years, hubris stubbornly remained in the roots of human. They taught themselves science and thought that would make them ‘god’, exploiting the environment which they claimed possess of; every single act is seen and heard yet they know nothing about it. Instead of the Sun, the Season, the Nature, they worship their own invention —‘Science’. And they forgot that gods have rage, too. Soon enough they shall receive their punishment, and by then it would be to no significance for whatever they discovered, or created.
Science really had the gods furious. It made their names forgotten by their once worshipers, Mount Olympus became nowhere more than a tourist attraction. The shrines were dusted, unvisited, and now names only exist in books that are barely flipped. The gods of nature were usually kind and undisturbed, until these ruthless, fragile beings decided to destroy their home, took everything away for their convenience. However powerful as nymphs were, an extra hand was needed for their plans. The nymphs found Helios with the father Oceanus’ help. He was a luckier one for still being remembered from time to time, though he was treated not any way better. Descended from above, he answered to nymphs’ quest, nonetheless he had to excuse himself from the Oceanids. Something reminded him, that a favour was to be returned from the god of fire, of craftsman, the maker of his chariot, his boat and his palace, and for most, the moulder of the first woman Pandora—Hephaestus. Him once had help from the all-seeing one, discovered the illicit business of his wife, as madden as he was, a favour was owed. Helios now asked for the best fire, not one to light, but one to destroy and build, the fire to punish human’s arrogance. With the seed of fire from Hephaestus’ furnace, Helios presented his power like he never did before, the energy radiated around the globe but the mercifulness within him had saved the mortal creatures a few more decades. What a pity it was for the poor humans still trying to explain phenomenons with Science, ‘global warming’ as it was called. Actions speak louder than words, yet with all the opportunities, the latter still outweighed the former.
The divine’s retribution eventually befell in the end of 21st century. Land was no longer fertile, and lakes and seas had gone dry, all things were to wither. Poor human witnessed everything but was too late when they tried to pray again. Now the Sun was bigger than ever, closer than ever, scorching than ever. ‘May you stop now,’ as Nature’s voice raised, hinting Helios’ task was complete. He returned to the island of Thrinacia in his golden chariot. Now Nature is to rebuild everything from naught, the ‘plants’ human built brought to her disgrace, those boxes of fumes would only bring toxins to the world, so she replaced them with new leaves. The world will regrow and bloom once again in the hands of Nature.
Analysis
This analysis breaks down the myth based on its plot and the characters involved. The myth is constructed with the existence of gods and reason global warming to gods’ punishment. It attempts to warn humans in their ungracious behaviour as well as foreshadowing their grim fate for their fitful belief in gods.
Narrative
The piece is separated into three paragraphs, with first introducing the cause of the catastrophe as being hubris that hides in the root of humanity. It extends to brief on an outline of what would be introduced later in the passage, implanting the idea of punishment in this narrative. The second paragraph elaborates on the sequence of gods’ actions for befalling retribution to this polluted world, whereas last paragraph provides a closure of the fantasy having the nymphs wishing Helios to stop and left with an open ending to how the world was eventually rebuilt by them.
The myth is constructed based on an improvised relationship between Helios and the ocean nymphs, and a traceable relationship of Helios and Hephaestus from various sources such as Odyssey, Metamorphoses, etc. It attempts to reason one of the most serious issue the world faces at the moment to god’s manipulation with their undeniable force. In order to showcase the worst self of humanity, or the hubris mentioned in many of the myths, an artificial god was created in this myth as the creative/innovative component, for such it could reflect on our desire on power, even in the wish of becoming god one day. Some components stood out in this writing, ideas were drawn from the ancient sources such as: difference in powers in gods, the hierarchy within this divine group and their complicated relationships. Hubris was often seen in human in myths, extreme arrogance presented in them for their little success hence overtaking their respect in gods supremacy. This contemporary myth is constructed with this human feature extensively implanted, so that it fits how a myth would be constructed in the past.
Helios
As we read from the Odyssey we know that he was the god of the Sun, or the Sun itself. One of the most famous narratives of this god was presented with halos around his head in the golden chariot of four horses, riding from the highest point of heaven to the ocean indicating a day on Earth (Homeric Hymn 31). In this mythical context with the participation of the omnipotence of gods, the decision was made to build relationships in a fictional perspective which Helios would be the cause and source of ‘warming’ being the Sun himself. From ancient sources we see that most gods were not to be insulted, but based on the story of his son Phaethon, a choice was made to let Helios showcases his mercy to humans and hint was given rather than wiping everything forthwith. As Phaethon resulted in his death for his immature stubbornness (Fabulae 143), this somehow resembles Phaethon’s hubris, hence Helios’ sparing of the last chance to the livings.
In our common ‘modern’ knowledge the connection between the Sun and global warming is far from matching up the scale that deforestation does; in an imaginary context however, Helios being all-knowing and all-seeing, his power would be unlimited compare to what human acquire. Deforestation would have a lesser impact on a global scale, it mostly did damage to the nymphs’ living environment.
Nature—Nymphs
Nature was specified as a goddess in the Orphic hymns, but it does not relate to this myth, here the role of Nature is played by the nymphs. Nymphs were frequently mentioned in myths and they varied in forms in different locations, they were known powerful but not equivalent to the gods. Versions of parentage vary, the one which they were introduced as the daughters of Oceanus (Theogony 346) is chosen for this narrative. This version was drawn from the many, brought forth the relationship between Helios and the nymphs. The nature was usually protected and guarded by them, however, their strength was insufficient to punish the entire human race. On the behalf of all nature nymphs, the Oceanids from east of Oceanus requested for Helios’ assist.
The nymphs played a neutral role in the fiction as they hoped for a destruction at the beginning and took the task of rebuilding at the end. Besides, the contrasting facets of the nymphs are symbolic of the reality since the nature is always trying its best to recover; it is destroyed by us and now the entirety of our society will be paying for this environmental ‘debt’. Similarly, the Oceanids knew the cost they had paid for their home and now they attempted to bring everything back to life. As of minor importance as it seems to gods, the Natures values the place they live and will do anything to protect it, and human being the root to every problem shall be their target. Unlike Helios, their goal was not destroyed, but preserve; the plan of ‘global warming’ was initiated by the Nymphs and so did the ‘recovery’ plan.
Hephaestus
The son of Zeus and Hera, husband of Aphrodite. He is god of forgery and fire but more often recognised for the former. Despite his appearance, he demonstrated mastery in crafting, mentioned by Hesiod:
Or like iron, the hardest substance there is, When it ids softened by fire in mountain glens And melts in bright earth under Hephaistos’ hands (Theogony 870-873).
He helped make the armours and weapons for gods and heroes and later by Ovid and Minermus they added respectively that Hephaestus was the maker of Helios’ chariot in the morning, his boat at night and even the palace of his, suggesting both gods being tightly related. With that being said, he is considered here as a ‘lesser character,’ he was only needed when Helios needed him to return his favour. This implemented an important element that is, collaboration exists in even beyond human, hence reflecting on how poorly human in working towards global goals together as a team; gods may not have enough power to take care of everything, in my perspective, that’s the reason for ‘gods’ instead of ‘The God’. Regardless of the superiority one might have on another, perfection was performed if they work with each other.
Science
Another theme in the ‘contemporary myth’ connects with science, the mainstream belief in our society. When computers were not invented, clothes were still handmade and electricity was not even a word, that world was untouched by most of us. Industrialisation followed by the beginning of mass production led to a booming economy, but it brought along with a skyrocketed population, in addition to the contamination of the environment caused by factories. This is not directly addressed in this narrative, but was relatable as one of many sins humanity committed in the betrayal of Olympian gods.
When it came to solving global warming with god’s omnipotence, it was somewhat critical to interfere with their authority in the first place, since what we take ‘globally’ would likely be insignificant to those in power. Global warming may seem crucial as one of our international goals, yet it would merely catch gods’ attention, for them able to create and destroy with a blink of an eye. On this account, Science was personified so that the values of the original gods were taken away, it replaced to become the new God for humanity. It formed its own religion against the archaic gods, presenting disrespect to the divinities. The hubris presented within this context eventually brought forward this disastrous ending.
Conclusion
Hubris, warnings, punishment, destruction, healing, rebirth, and most importantly, respect to god. The narration of the myth is well-rounded and has involved the several themes above. The choice was made focusing on the gods that were already bonded from ancient sources and with modern ideas infused such as science and global warming, it fulfils the goal of explaining the global phenomenon with supernatural power that we thought plainly as folktales, stories or legends. It acts as a reminder to due respect over divinities, but more to it warns the warn the human race to reconsider what should truly be honoured, what to be preserved than exploit.
Bibliography
Homeric Hymn 31 to Helios
Hesiod, Theogony 346 ff
Hesiod, Theogony 560
Hesiod, Theogony 870-873
Homer, Odyssey 6. 233 & 23. 160 ff
Homer, Odyssey 9. 152 ff
Homer, Odyssey 8. 267 ff
Mimnermus, Fragment 12
Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. 104 ff
Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. 1 ff
Orphic Hymn 50 to the Nymphs
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 154
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