![]() ![]() His Roman counterpart was called Sol (from the Latin word meaning “sun”). Over time, Helios became identified with other gods, most notably Apollo. Very often he was simply called “Titan” or “the Titan.” Helios was sometimes known as Hyperion (also his father’s name), which means “high one” or “he who moves above”-an appropriate name for a sun god. It is more likely that Helios’ name (and the Greek noun with which it is identical) comes from the Indo-European word for sun, * seh₂u-el. Nowadays, these efforts are regarded as folk etymologies. The Suda, on the other hand, connected the word to either ἀολλίζεσθαι ( aollízesthai), meaning “to come together” (because of the “coming together” that occurs during the daytime), or to ἀλεαίνειν ( aleaínein), meaning “to warm.” The ancient Greeks suggested several fanciful etymologies for Helios’ name: Plato, for example, derived the name (and the noun) from either the verb ἁλίζειν ( halízein), meaning “to collect” (because the sun “collected” humans whenever it rose), or from the phrase ἀεὶ εἱλεῖν ( aeì heileîn), meaning “to turn constantly” (because the sun was constantly turning around the earth). Hḗlios) was also the ancient Greek word meaning “sun.” Variant spellings include the Homeric Ἠέλιος ( Ēélios), the Doric and Aeolic Ἅλιος ( Hálios) or Ἀέλιος ( Aélios), and the Cretan Ἀβέλιος ( Abélios) or Ἀϝέλιος ( Awélios). The name “Helios” (Greek Ἥλιος, translit. (Similarly, Helios’ sister Selene was increasingly identified with Apollo’s sister Artemis.) His cult did, however, become much more important in later antiquity, when the sun god came to be identified with the more powerful Apollo, the Olympian god of divination, healing, and the arts. Though Helios was treated with awe and reverence by the ancient Greeks, he was rarely worshipped. In one myth, Helios’ rash son Phaethon tried to drive the blazing chariot himself, but he lost control of the horses, scorched the earth, and was ultimately killed. Every day, Helios drove his chariot across the sky to bring light to the world. He served as both the god of the sun and the sun personified. 8 Nos.Helios, often known simply as “the Titan,” was the son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. Vivaldi: Four Seasons, violin concertos op. Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 43 minutes): On the painting the sun-god, having Apollo's appearance and attributes, sits on a cloudy throne framed in the zodiacal belt, a lyre beside him Phaethon kneels in front of him. Phaethons's reckless attempt to drive his father's chariot made him the symbol of all who aspire to that which lies beyond their capabilities. In the nick of time Jupiter, father of the goods, put a stop to his escapade with a thunderbolt which wrecked the chariot and sent Phaethon hurtling down in flames into the River Eridanus. He dropped the reins, the horses bolted and caused the earth itself to catch fire. Because he had no skill he was soon in trouble, and the climax came when he met the fearful Scorpion of the zodiac. The Hours yoked the team of four horses to the golden car, Dawn threw open her doors, and Phaethon was off. Here Phaethon presented himself and persuaded an unwilling father to allow him for one day to drive his chariot across the skies. Ovid tells of the palace of Helios and his retinue - Day, Month, Year, the Four Seasons and so on. His golden chariot is a 'quadriga' yoked to a team of four horses abreast. Apollo's identification with the sun was a later development, and was particularly associated with his cult in Roman times.) Helios drove his chariot daily across the sky. ![]() (To the Greeks the nature and functions of Apollo and Helios were distinct and separate. In Greek mythology Phaethon was the son of Helios, the sun-god. Helios and Phaethon with Saturn and the Four Seasons ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |