《Phaeton and the Sun Chariot》.ppt

Phaeton and the Sun Chariot Apollo did find many lovers.Many of them were mortals, and he had many children.One of his mortal children was a boy named Phaeton.One day, a schoolmate laughed at Phaeton when he said Apollo was his father.Phaeton,in anger and shame, reported this to his mother. If, he said I am indeed of heavenly birth, give me , mother, some proof of it, and establish my claim to the hornor. Phaetons mother, Clymene, stretched her hands toward the skies and said, it’s not difficult to go and ask Apollo for yourself.The land from where the sun rises lies next to ours. Phaeton heard this with delight.he traveled to India, where the sun rises.Full of hope and pride, he approached the palace of the sun.Apollo’s palace stood high on columns, glittering with gold and precious stones. Clymene’s son advanced up the steep stairs and entered the halls of his father.He approached Apollo, but stopped at a distance, for the light was more than he could bear. Apollo, dressed in a purple robe, sat on a glittering diamond throne.He asked the boy why he had come. Phaeton replied,”O, light of the wide world, Apollo, my father- if you permit me to call you that - give me some proof, I beg you, by which I may be known as your son.” Apollo told Phaeton to approach and, hugging him, said, “My son, you do not deserve to be abondoned.I confirm what your mother has told you.To put an end to your doubts, ask for whatever you want, and I will give it to you if it is in my power to grant it.” Phaeton immediately asked to drive the chariot of the sun for one day.Apollo quickly wished he had never made such a promise. “I spoke without thinking,” said Apollo.”This is the only request I would deny you. I beg you to change your mind.It is not safe. You are a mortal, and you ask for something that is beyond a mortal’s power.None but me can drive the flaming car of day.Not even Zeus, whose terrible right arm hurls the thunderbolts, can do this.” However, Phaeton would not change his