Helios Essay, Research Paper

Helios

Helios, the Greek sun god, was also known as Sol in Roman mythology. He

was the father of Aeets and Circe. He was married to Perseis. He had two

sisters, Selene, the goddess of the moon, and Eos, the goddess of dawn.

Ancient Greeks believed that everyday Helios drove a chariot pulled by

four horses across the sky with a giant flaming ball in it. He rode with his

sister Eos, the goddess of dawn. There are several different stories about how

he got back to the East. One story says that he rode in a giant golden cup on

the river Oceanus. In other stories he returned by boat. Helios fed his horses

herbs on the Isle of the Blessed.

When Zeus was dividing up the universe, Helios was either gone or

forgotten so Zeus gave him the island of Rhodes where a giant statue of him

stood. The statue was knocked down by a giant earthquake.

Helios’ journeys made him an all-seeing god, and people often called

upon him to witness their oaths. He is often confused with Apollo the god of

light