Deep Ties

  King Midas - Freepik Midas was the ruler of Phrygia, who dwelt in an opulent palace, with everything he wanted at his fingertips. He lived with his beautiful daughter, and they enjoyed a life of abundance. Midas thought that his greatest happiness came from his wealth and spent entire days admiring and counting his gold coins. He would cover himself in gold and obsess over his possessions, not realising how this obsession could lead to dire consequences. One day, Dionysus, the Greek god of revelry and wine passed through Midas’ kingdom. One of his companions, a satyr named Silenus, was exhausted and decided to take a nap in the exotic rose gardens that flanked the kingdom. He was discovered there by Midas who invited him into his palace and entertained and took care of him for ten days and nights. At the end of the period, he took him back to Dionysus, who was grateful for the king’s kindness to his companion, and granted him a wish. Midas immediately asked for everything he touc...

              Paleothea Leander or Leandros (Lion Man) was a young leader from Abydos. One day, he attended a festival where he came across the modest and beautiful Hero, who was a priestess of the goddess Aphrodite, and hence, lived in chastity. Leander fell in love with her at first sight. He used his charm and his wiles to make her respond to his advances. As Hero lived in Sestos, there was a whole sea, the Hellespont, which separated Europe from Asia, and the lovers as well. Every night, Leander would swim across the sea, guided only by a lamp that Hero would keep alight on the top of her tower. Thus, a whole summer went by with the lovers falling even more deeply in love.                                                        Hero Guiding Leander - The Eclectic Light Company One stormy night, Leander set out...

  Kratos - God of War Statue - Etsy Kratos is considered as one of the lesser gods, or even a demigod, in Greek mythology. He was the son of the Titan Pallas, and the river goddess Styx. It is believed that Zeus overthrew his father, Kronos, and took over the kingdom of the gods from him. When he came to power, he took under his protection all those who had not sided with Kronos earlier. Styx was one of the first of approach him with her children – Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), Zelus (Zeal) and Nike (Victory). Zeus took them all in, honouring them as the highest members of his regime. Since they did not have an abode of their own, he graciously allowed them to dwell with him. Kratos turned into one of Zeus’ winged sentinels. He was almost like his henchman, ready to follow his bidding without thinking of whether it was right or wrong, like an ‘uncomplicated thug’ finding job openings under a despotic reign. Kratos was the embodiment of physical brutality and mercilessness, tr...

                                                                                                            Goodreads Jason, the son of Aeson, the king of Iolcos, had an eventful babyhood. His power-hungry half-brother, Pelias, overthrew Aeson, the rightful king, to attain dominion over Thessaly. He murdered all his surviving relatives. Luckily for Jason, who was a newborn, Alcimide, his mother, saved him by pretending that he was still born. She sent the baby to the centaur, Chiron, with whom she claimed a relationship, which rattled Pelias. He consulted an oracle who warned him of a man wearing one sandal.                                 ...

  Icarus - Instagram The myth of Icarus has been told and retold many times in both Greek Mythology and in modern times. Icarus was the son of master craftsman, Daedalus, and Naucrate. Daedalus  garnered immense fame through his inventions, his most famous being the creation of the labyrinth of Crete. However, there is also another story about Daedalus which takes away from his persona. Daedalus had a different side to him as well. Apparently, he was so jealous of his nephew who was as talented, or more, than him, that he murdered him to regain his popularity. King Minos and Queen Pasiphae ruled over the island of Crete. It is said that Pasiphae fell in love with the Cretan Bull, and of the union was born the Minotaur, half man, half bull. Minos ordered Daedalus to create a maze-like structure called the labyrinth to house his monstrous stepson. The labyrinth was so intricately designed that anyone who went in could not find their way out again. The Minotaur - Instagram Mi...