Every morning, Helios, the Sun God, would prepare his magical winged horses and set off in his golden chariot to travel across the sky. As he turned the early morning light into the bright day, he often thought about the people living below. Long ago, Helios fell in love with a water nymph named Clymene. They had seven daughters and a son named Phaethon. However, Clymene eventually left Helios, taking their children with her and marrying King Merops of Ethiopia.
When Phaethon was young, his mother, Clymene, told him stories about his divine father. As he grew older, Phaethon felt proud to be the son of the Sun God. But one day, his friend Epaphus, who was the son of Zeus, teased him about his father. This made Phaethon doubt his mother’s stories. He started to wonder if she had been truthful about his father.
Phaethon confronted his mother, and she assured him that Helios was indeed his father. Still unsure, Phaethon decided to visit Helios himself. He traveled east and entered the Sun God’s bright palace. Once his eyes adjusted to the dazzling light, he saw Helios smiling warmly at him. When Phaethon expressed his doubts, Helios reassured him with a smile.
To prove their connection, Helios promised to grant Phaethon anything he wished. Phaethon asked to drive Helios’ chariot for a day. Helios was worried because controlling the chariot was a difficult task, even for the gods. He tried to persuade Phaethon to choose something else, but Phaethon was determined. Reluctantly, Helios prepared him for the journey.
As Phaethon took off, he felt confident, but soon he lost control. The horses flew higher and higher, and the chariot veered off course. The Earth began to freeze as the Sun moved too far away. Panicking, Phaethon pulled the reins too hard, causing the chariot to dive towards the Earth. Lakes boiled, and forests caught fire as he struggled to regain control.
The gods watched in fear from Mount Olympus. Zeus realized that Phaethon’s ride would end in disaster, so he threw a powerful thunderbolt at him. The horses broke free, and Phaethon fell from the sky into the river Eridanus, never to be seen again.
Phaethon’s sisters mourned by the river, eventually turning into poplar trees that wept amber tears. Zeus repaired the Earth and honored Phaethon by placing his image among the stars. Helios, heartbroken, hid from the sky for a while. But he returned, and every day as he traveled across the heavens, he greeted his son. The constellation “Auriga,” or “the charioteer,” serves as a reminder of Phaethon’s tragic attempt to control powers beyond his reach.
Illustrate the story of Phaethon by creating a comic strip. Use your creativity to depict key scenes, such as Phaethon’s meeting with Helios and his reckless ride. Share your comic with the class and discuss how the visuals help convey the story’s themes.
Work in groups to perform a short play based on the myth. Assign roles for Helios, Phaethon, Clymene, and Zeus. Focus on expressing the emotions and motivations of each character. After the performance, discuss what you learned about the characters’ relationships and decisions.
Imagine you are Phaethon and write a diary entry about your feelings before and after the chariot ride. Reflect on your motivations, fears, and the consequences of your actions. Share your entry with a partner and discuss how Phaethon’s choices led to his downfall.
Create your own constellation inspired by Phaethon’s story. Draw the constellation and write a short myth explaining its origin. Present your constellation to the class and explain how it relates to the themes of ambition and consequence.
Participate in a class debate about whether Helios should have granted Phaethon’s wish. Consider the responsibilities of a parent and the consequences of Phaethon’s actions. Use evidence from the myth to support your arguments and listen to opposing viewpoints.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Every morning, Helios harnessed his winged horses, unleashed his golden chariot, and set out across the sky. As the Sun God transformed the rosy dawn into the golden blooms of day, he thought of those far below. Years ago, he fell in love with a water nymph named Clymene. Together, they had seven daughters and one son named Phaethon. However, Clymene eventually left him, taking their children with her and marrying King Merops of Ethiopia.
When Phaethon was little, Clymene told him tales of his divine father. As he grew into a young man, he took special pride in knowing he was the Sun God’s child. However, one day, Epaphus, Phaethon’s peer and the son of Zeus, sought to temper Phaethon’s arrogance, taunting him about his parentage. With no absolute proof to the contrary, doubt began to creep into Phaethon’s mind. He feared that his mother had lied, and he questioned his identity.
When Phaethon confronted Clymene, she insisted that his father was indeed the powerful Sun God. Nevertheless, Phaethon was still filled with doubt. So, Clymene sent him off to ask Helios directly. Walking eastward, Phaethon entered the Sun God’s gleaming palace. Once his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he saw Helios’ radiant smile and open arms. When Phaethon expressed his skepticism about Helios being his father, the Sun God only beamed.
To dispel all doubt, Helios offered to grant Phaethon anything he wanted. Basking in Helios’ glow, Phaethon felt there was only one way to prove their connection to the world—and to himself. He wanted to drive Helios’ chariot for a day. Helios’ smile dimmed. The task required masterful control to ensure that the chariot raced along its precise celestial trajectory, with a thin margin separating stability from catastrophe. Even Zeus wasn’t confident in driving the chariot.
Helios begged his son to reconsider, but Phaethon was steadfast, so the god prepared him for the journey. With a crack of the reins, he was off. In flight, Phaethon’s mortal insecurities fell away. But soon, the reins slackened in his hands. Unaccustomed to the weight of the chariot, the radiant horses climbed higher and higher. The chariot whirled past constellations, narrowly missing obstacles in the sky. With the Sun so far away, the Earth darkened, and the seas began to freeze.
Startled, Phaethon sharply pulled the reins. The horses lurched, and the chariot plunged towards the Earth’s surface. Lakes boiled and forests burned as Phaethon struggled to pull the chariot up, leaving devastation in his wake. Back on Mount Olympus, the gods were panicking. Zeus saw that Phaethon was destined for a crash that would cause great destruction. So, he hurled one of his mighty thunderbolts at the boy. The horses tore away, leaving Phaethon suspended in the heavens for just one moment before he plummeted to the Earth, into the river Eridanus, never to resurface.
Phaethon’s sisters gathered on the riverbank to weep, gradually transforming into poplar trees that leaked precious amber into the water. Zeus repaired the Earth and created an everlasting memorial, placing Phaethon’s likeness among the stars. Overcome by grief, Helios hid himself from the sky. But he soon returned, and every day from then on, as he raced through the heavens, he greeted his son. The constellation known as “Auriga,” or “the charioteer,” stands as a reminder of a lost young man and his attempt to harness powers far greater than himself.
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This version maintains the essence of the story while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a cultural belief or practice. – In Greek mythology, the myth of Icarus teaches the lesson of hubris and the dangers of flying too close to the sun.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered to have artistic or intellectual value. – The students studied classic literature, including the works of Shakespeare and Homer, to understand different storytelling techniques.
Journey – An act of traveling from one place to another, often used as a metaphor for personal growth or adventure. – In “The Odyssey,” Odysseus’s long journey home is filled with challenges and lessons.
Chariot – A two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, used in ancient times for warfare and racing. – In the epic tale, the hero rode a golden chariot across the battlefield, leading his army to victory.
Truth – The quality or state of being in accordance with fact or reality. – The character in the story learned that the truth was more powerful than any lie he could tell.
Wish – A desire or hope for something to happen. – In many fairy tales, characters are granted three wishes, but they must choose wisely.
Control – The power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events. – The wizard in the story had the ability to control the elements with a wave of his hand.
Legacy – Something handed down from an ancestor or from the past. – The hero’s legacy lived on through the stories told by future generations.
Gods – Supernatural beings considered divine or sacred, often worshipped in various religions and mythologies. – In Norse mythology, the gods lived in Asgard and watched over the human world.
Sun – The star at the center of our solar system, often personified in myths and literature as a powerful force. – In ancient Egyptian mythology, the sun god Ra was believed to travel across the sky in a solar boat.
