This ability, to have the all-seeing eye, to witness events unfolding beneath him, as he rode through the sky, would have made Helios both a valuable friend and a frightening ally. Caught in the act, the gods then banished Ares from Olympus for his crime. He reported this to Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s husband, and helped set a trap to catch the two lovers. Similarly, Helios witnessed an affair between Aphrodite and Ares. He informed her that Hades, the God of the Underworld, had kidnapped her daughter, the goddess. And because he saw all, Helios was able to come to the aid of Demeter, Mother of Persephone. The ancient Greeks believed that Helios could witness anything in the Heavens or on Earth and so it was common to see him depicted with the Epitaph Panoptes, otherwise known as the all-seeing eye. Helios is usually depicted with his head surrounded by a glowing aureole of sun rays. Zeus, heeding the warning, struck the ship of Odysseus’ crew, killing everyone except for Odysseus himself. Helios then appealed to Zeus for revenge and threatened to shine the sun into the underworld, where the dead reside. The men did not heed Odysseus’ warning and, whilst he was absent, they slaughtered some of the sacred animals. When Odysseus and his men visited Thrinacia, an island dedicated to Helios, The Sun God, they were warned not to touch any of Helios’ cattle or sheep. Zeus was forced to strike down the chariot and therefore, Phaeton was killed. However, he lost control of the horses and was in danger of setting the earth of fire. He had several children including a son: Phaeton, who in wanting to seek the truth of his father being the Sun God, asked to be in charge of the chariot one day. Helios was married to Clymene, but did have other wives and consorts. She rode side saddle on her horse, or rode in a chariot drawn by two winged steeds and wore a crown with a lunar sphere. The night belonged to Helios’ second sister, Selena, the Moon Goddess. He then drifted along a mystical river back to his golden palace in the east, where he was then ready to once again ride his chariot at dawn. “Helios, god who knows all, god who drives his chariot across the sky, aid me, and help me recognise the truth from a lie.” … James KambosĪt dusk, Helios would descend into a golden cup in the western sky. I have read that if you want Helios to help you get to the truth of an issue, then whilst thinking about your problem say these words: Helios is, therefore, associated with speaking the truth. For this reason, other Gods and Humans alike, would seek his advice and counsel to learn the truth about all matters. During his spectacular ride across the skies and above the earth, Helios would observe and listen to everything that happened below him, for he could see and hear everything. She would draw her fingers across the sky, moving aside the misty curtain from which Helios would appear to begin his journey. Helios had two sisters: one named Eos, Goddess of the Dawn. ” Brave Helios wake up your steeds, b ring the warmth the countryside needs” … The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed. I suppose today, many of us would say that we worship the sun.
To the Ancient Greeks, Helios was the personification of sun and sunlight, and was worshipped just as much as Zeus.
Legend tells of the island being muddy and uninhabitable when it was discovered, but Helios dried the land and filled it with life. Rhodes, therefore became sacred to Helios. Helios was believed to have shaped the Island of Rhodes and was honoured there as an important deity. Parts of the statue were preserved, but it was never rebuilt. Sadly, it collapsed during the earthquake of 226 B.C. It was one of the seven wonders of the world, being 33 metres high, the tallest statue of the ancient world. His birthplace was the Island of Rhodes, where a colossal statue of Helios was erected in 280 B.C.
At dawn, he would rise out of the Eastern sky, riding in his chariot, drawn by four magnificent winged horses: Pyrois, Aeos, Aethon and Phlegon. According to myth, he resided in a golden palace, in the river Okeanos, far to the East. Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia, and of course he belongs to the season of Summer. Anything to do with Sunshine always makes me happy so thought it would be fun and interesting to research and write an article about myth and legend – Helios, the Sun God.
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