Apollo and the Spots of the Sun
By: Colton Armour
Apollo and the Spots of the Sun
In the beginning, the sun was made by the almighty creator, Chaos, and given to the Titans. The Titans cherished and honored the sun, but as time began to pass, the Titans became imprisoned by the Olympians and Zeus. As ruler of the sky, Zeus obtained the sun and gave it to his son, Apollo. In Apollo’s younger age he was reckless and immature. He heavily abused and exploited the privilege of having the sun.
Zeus acknowledged the fact and decided to take the sun from Apollo and give it to Hades as punishment for Apollo’s misuse of the sun. Apollo grew distraught without the sun as a companion, he missed the warmth and glow it emitted from its center so brilliantly. Realizing he could no longer stand to wallow around in his own self-pity, he made a choice to embark on a journey to rescue the sun from the cold, chaotic, and catastrophic Underworld. He grabbed his silver bow, his lyre, a sack of golden coins, and his chariot. Before he could embark, he was halted by Zeus and questioned, “Why do you have your bow?” boomed Zeus. “Father, I cannot bear the fact of losing the sun, please let me retrieve it.” “So be it, but you are going at your own risk, and I will not assist you.” “Thank you father, I will prevail!” screamed Apollo. He made his way down Mt. Olympus and rode his chariot along the gulf of Greece to the Underworld.
The ground was hard as steel, the wind as cold as snow, with these signs Apollo knew he neared the Underworld Passage. As he approached the passage, he grew bitter, cold, and fearful. As he stood in front of the passage he pondered the idea of leaving and never coming back to this spot, but as he thought, he recalled the cold, lonely nights, the solitary confinement, and the bitter tears running down his cheeks without the sun. With one deep breath, he leapt into the Underworld with no regrets.
As Apollo made his way to the ferry after entering the Underworld, he felt the pain of those who came here before him, and knew that he could not bear to see the sun in these conditions that so many felt. As he entered the boat, he gave the ferry half his golden coins for the journey towards the heart of the Underworld. He reached the banks of the Underworld and saw the burning fires all around him, the floors screaming out in pain and suffering. As he made his way through the Underworld, he was very cautious knowing he was weaker without the power of the sun. As he made his way around a corner he encountered three shades, he quickly pulled his bow and fired three arrows in perfect succession. As he went deeper he felt resurgence in strength and knew the sun was nearby. As he entered Hades Palace which was the holding cell of the sun he saw the cold, carnivorous, crazed beast known as Cerberus. As he looked into the beast he saw a look of steel and death and instantly felt frozen. As Cerberus raced towards him with the power of a thousand men he dove behind a pillar, took out his lyre and played a tune so harmonious it put Cerberus to sleep. As he traveled down the hallway into an opening he saw the sun. It could be no other as he saw the bright glow, the hope it put forth, and the bond he felt inside. He quickly snatched the sun in his hands and raced out of the Underworld. He almost made it to the exit when he encountered an enormous shade army who must have realized the sun was missing. With the power of the sun, he blew away the shades effortlessly. He quickly raced out of the Underworld and never looked back. As he exited he felt a weight lift off his chest, knowing the sun would be with him for eternity. He felt as if nothing could separate him from the sun, something he took advantage of before. As he made his way up the side of Mt. Olympus he put the sun back in its holding place above the sky. However, he saw peculiar dark, rounded circles on the sun; he realized that the sun being in the Underworld for so long, must have cooled in certain spots. He knew the sun would not be as faithful to Apollo because of this, and that it would not emit as hopeful as a glow, but he did not care.
On that day Apollo showed his attachment and love for the sun. He showed his father that he was no longer a little boy, but a mature adult. And from then on, Apollo knew that you never realize how important something is, until it is gone. To this day the sun sits in its place above Mt. Olympus, sharing its light for everyone and everything.