Helios (God)
History:
Helios was one of the Titans, son of Hyperion and Theia and brother of Eos(the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon). The personification of the Sun, he was portrayed as driving a four-horse chariot across the sky on a daily basis. Helios was married to Perse, but he had quite a few extramarital affairs, and a number of children; these include the Charites, Phaethon, Circe, Aeetes, Pasiphae, Heliadae, and Heliades. driving a golden chariot pulled by four fiery steeds across the sky. That was the image that would come to the minds of ancient Greeks when they thought of Helios. To them, he was the representation of the sun and sunlight, traveling across the sky every day. Some authors report that select Greeks revered him as much as they did Zeus.
Significant Deeds:
Helios presided over the various facets of the heavenly body, from the measurement and divisions of the day, year and the seasons, to the powers of heat and fire, and the gift of sight. He provided everything a god of sun would.
Powers and Abilities:
The power of Helios was his near omniscience. Helios, in the Iliad, is given the epithet of the ‘one who knows and sees all’ due to his ability to see things happening from a great distance that others cannot.
This ability has also made him the god of oaths. Also, in the Iliad, when the Greeks and Trojans prepare the duel between Menelaus and Paris, they swear to Helios.
Two examples of his great vision, are when he saw Hades kidnap Persephone-and told Demeter-and when he witnessed Aphrodite cheating on Hephaestus with Ares.
Of course, you can’t forget that Helios was the god of the sun. And with his chariot drove the Sun across the sky. He had the sole power over when and where the sun shined. He had even threatened once to put the Sun in the underworld if Zeus did not punish Odysseus’ men for eating his sacred cattle (an example of Helios’ great vision failing as he only knew when one of his daughters told him).
What Is He Known For?:
Helios was a titan god of the sun and sunlight and was described as the One who watches from above and sees and observes anyone or anything if he wishes, not just on earth but in heavens also. According to some authors, he was worshiped and admired at the same scale as Zeus because he is a life bringer with his beams of light.
Story(s) Helios Plays A Role In:
Legend has it that one day while lost in his quest to find the island of Erythia, Hercules grew frustrated and shot an arrow towards the sun. Upon realizing what he had done, he apologized to the Titan. Helios, however, was so taken with the boldness of this action that he presented Hercules with his golden cup. Hercules was then able to use this cup to reach his destination.
Credits:
“Helius (Helios)” http://www.theoi.com/Titan/Helios.html (Accessed Nov. 8)
“Helios Ancient History” https://www.ancient.eu/Helios/ (Accessed Nov. 8)
“Helios” https://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Helios/helios.html (Accessed Nov. 8)
