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The tragic myth of the Sun God's son - Iseult Gillespie

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Every morning, Helios unleashed his golden chariot, and set out across the sky. As the Sun God transformed dawn into day, he thought of his son, Phaethon, below. To prove to Phaethon that he was truly his father, Helios decided to grant him anything he wanted. Unfortunately, what Phaethon wanted was to drive Helios’ chariot for a day. Iseult Gillespie shares the tragic myth of the charioteer.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Iseult Gillespie
  • Director Jagriti Khirwar, Raghav Arumugam
  • Narrator Susan Zimmerman
  • Music Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
  • Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
Avatar for Sazia Afrin
Lesson in progress

How do you understand Phaethon’s hubris? Why do you think he wanted to race Helios’ chariot, even though he knew it was dangerous?


Comments are closed on this discussion.

Avatar for Jennifer Mink
Lesson completed

I think the reason he wanted to ride the chariot is because he thought if was truly the sun gods son he would automatically know how to control it.


Avatar for Hoàng Hà Phạm
Lesson completed

He wanted to prove to himself and his father that he could do what his father could


Avatar for Natália Santos
Lesson completed

He was insecure about his own identity and he needed proves to know who he really was. Besides, he was young. So, I think we have here the ingredients to do imprudent things.


Avatar for Abbie Lamb
Lesson completed

I think he wanted to race Helios' chariot, even though he knew it was dangerous in order to prove to himself and Epaphus that he was in fact the son of Helios.


Avatar for 민욱 김
Lesson completed

I think he wanted to race Helios's chariot because he was a kid and most of all he wanted to show off that he was the son of the sun god and that it was not a lie. He wanted to proof that he has a immortal dad.


Avatar for Harry Connerty
Lesson completed

I think he wanted to race Helios' chariot, even though he knew it was dangerous because he was still young and developing.

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