I am Hades, The Unseen One.
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*tribal drums*
As soon as I started to read this story I
immediately knew which one it was, this was
a story I have heard many times.
It is one of the Prince Actaeon and the Virgin
Goddess Diana (Artemis).
The sun was positioned for midday and it stood
equally distant from Actaeon, the son of King
Cadmus.
He addressed the youth with him who were hunting
a stag in the mountains:
“Friends, our nets and our weapons are wet
with the blood of our victims; we have had
sport enough for one day, and to-morrow we
can renew our labors.
Now, while Phoebus parches the earth, let
us put our implements and indulge our-selves
with rest.”
Nearest to the young hunters was a valley
of thick enclosed cyprus and pines, which
was sacred to the huntress queen.
A goddess known to the Romans as Diana and
to the Greeks as Artemis.
Beyond the thicket was a beautiful cave adorned
with nature, from spewing fountains to a swirling
arch of branches along the caves ceiling.
From the wall mounted fountain sat a pool
of water which the goddess of the hunt would
come to -- and I quote -- “lave her virgin
limbs in the sparkling water.”
Though on this day being need of repairs she
entered her outpost with her nymphs.
The goddess handed her javelin, her quiver
and her bow to one, her robe to another, while
a third nymph began unbounding her sandals
from her feet.
Then Crocale, being the most skillful of them
arranged her hair, while Nephele and Hyale
filled bath water in capacious urns.
While in the process of this retirement, Actaeon
alone and rambling without objective came
to the place of Diana.
As he entered the cave, the nymphs immediately
screamed and quickly rushed towards the goddess,
attempting to shield her with their bodies.
But they being nymphs it was of no use as
she was much taller than them.
Instinct kicked in and the goddess immediately
reached for her arrows, but they being far
beyond reach she instead splashed water into
the face of Acteaon and said: “Now go and
tell, if you can, that you have seen Diana
unapparelled.”
Godly impulse immediately took effect and
a pair of branching stag horns grew out of
Actaeon’s head.
His neck grew in length, his skin patched
spotted hairs, his ears grew to sharp points,
his hands became feet and his arms long legs
for running.
Gathered by fear the once heroic stature of
Acteaon fled out of Diana’s bath house.
As the prince approached water he stared at
his reflection and would of said, “Ah, wretched
me!” but all that came out was a soft groan
and tears which left his hair even darker.
Unfortunately Actaeon’s consciousness remained:
“What shall I do?”
he asked, “Do I go home to the palace or
lie hidden in the woods?”
In his hesitation he was spotted by first
Melampus, a Spartan dog, who gave out a bark
then Pamphadus, Dorceus, Lelaps, Theron, Nape,
Tigris and all the rest who rushed after him
swifter than wind.
The dogs, being well-trained chased Actaeon
the Stag over rocks, cliffs and mountains
that seemed impossible to traverse, wherever
he fled they followed.
And where once Actaeon chased stags and cheered
on his pack, the pack now chases him, cheered
on by his fellow huntsmen.
He attempted to cry out, “I am Actaeon;
recognize your master!” but it was no use
as one was fastened to his back, another to
his shoulder and the rest tearing the hide
from his frail bones.
His huntsmen called out his name, calling
him to join in the sport and when they did
Actaeon the Stag turned his head.
Actaeon would have been pleased to see the
exploits of his dogs, but to feel them was
too much.
And it wasn’t till all the flesh was ripped
from his bones that Diana’s anger was satiated.
In Shelly’s poem “Adonais” is the following
allusion to the sad tale of Actaeon:
“Midst others of less note came one frail
form,
A phantom among men: companionless
As the last cloud of an expiring storm,
Whose thunder is its knell; he, as I guess,
Had gazed on Nature’s naked loveliness,
Actaeon-like, and now he fled astray
With feeble steps o’er the world’s wilderness;
And his own Thoughts, along that rugged way,
Pursued like the raging hounds their father
and their prey.”
HIDDEN TEACHINGS
Many things popped into my mind while reading
this story.
The very first thing was that scene from Smallville
Superman.
*Smallville Locker Room Scene*
Then some poems I wrote back in the day, but
the tale of Actaeon is one I think many have
experience including myself.
So, I will share with you my own story of
Actaeon and Diana.
My whole life I stayed away from relationships,
I personally thought they were a waste of
time and I was partially right.
It wasn't till senior year of high school
when I thought, fuck it!
“It’s my last year I got nothing to lose.”
So I jumped into my first relationship.
For this story to make sense let me give you
some context.
I was Team Captain of the Soccer Team, essentially
I was the big man on campus, the popular kid.
I was Actaeon and my fellow huntsmen were
my soccer team, we were the brotherhood.
I was the respected prince and a lot of that
respect was because I didn’t pride myself
as a player with ladies, if you know what
I mean.
*wolf whistle*
I prided myself in my ability to work hard,
my discipline.
And my team saw that and respected me for
it.
But when I got with
this
girl
a lot
of
that
Turns out some of the guys on my team were
also attracted to this girl and not only that,
but other girls started to either become more
attracted to me or to hate me for being in
a relationship.
I sensed resentment beginning to build up
amongst my fellow brethren.
They felt betrayed because I chose temptation
over duty, because I broke the first unspoken
rule of all brotherhoods, bros over hoes.
I noticed all this pretty fast, but didn’t
really give a shit at first, until I took
a moment to think.
Long story short I had become the stag because
of unjustified lustfulness.
I was able to earn my respect back, but the
after effects of all that are still felt amongst
us till this day.
The story of Actaeon is that of a broken brotherhood.
Think about how many stories throughout time
talk are about this plot: Boy meets Girl,
they fall in love, Boy’s squad gets mad
because Boy is spending more time with Girl.
Thankfully my story didn’t get as bad as
some of the others out there, but we need
to ask ourselves every now and again, is this
worth it?
Is it worth throwing away everything for someone
else?
The problem with modern day western society
is that we get love and lust confused.
You see lust comes from the very strong primal
sexual desire to not only procreate, but to
have shared intense pleasure.
Whereas love is an intense feeling of deep
connection.
Lust is primal and reptilian, whereas love
is spiritual and divine.
The phrase “in sickness and in health”
refers specifically to love.
If you are driven by lust you will most definitely
not stick with someone if they are sick, but
if you truly love someone sickness does not
matter.
Many of us waste time on lust because it brings
us quick short term pleasures and I amongst
others fear that this great desire for lust
is overwhelming our society.
And lust doesn’t just transmute sexually,
but physically and spiritually as well.
How many of us waste money on things we don’t
need?
How many of us buy that cool new phone or
car because it is shiny and new and will make
us feel good for a little bit?
How many of us lust over these things like
dogs, like the dogs which killed Actaeon the
Stag.
We are elevated beings not hungry dogs, so
let us act like it.
Let us pride ourselves in the discipline to
overcome lust and temptation.
Because the truth is those successful men
and women whose names will echo throughout
the ages did not succumb to lust, but instead
overcame it.
respect went away.
Turns out some of the guys on my team were
also attracted to this girl and not only that,
but other girls started to either become more
attracted to me or to hate me for being in
a relationship.
I sensed resentment beginning to build up
amongst my fellow brethren.
They felt betrayed because I chose temptation
over duty, because I broke the first unspoken
rule of all brotherhoods, bros over hoes.
I noticed all this pretty fast, but didn’t
really give a shit at first, until I took
a moment to think.
Long story short I had become the stag because
of unjustified lustfulness.
I was able to earn my respect back, but the
after effects of all that are still felt amongst
us till this day.
The story of Actaeon is that of a broken brotherhood.
Think about how many stories throughout time
talk are about this plot: Boy meets Girl,
they fall in love, Boy’s squad gets mad
because Boy is spending more time with Girl.
Thankfully my story didn’t get as bad as
some of the others out there, but we need
to ask ourselves every now and again, is this
worth it?
Is it worth throwing away everything for someone
else?
The problem with modern day western society
is that we get love and lust confused.
You see lust comes from the very strong primal
sexual desire to not only procreate, but to
have shared intense pleasure.
Whereas love is an intense feeling of deep
connection.
Lust is primal and reptilian, whereas love
is spiritual and divine.
The phrase “in sickness and in health”
refers specifically to love.
If you are driven by lust you will most definitely
not stick with someone if they are sick, but
if you truly love someone sickness does not
matter.
Many of us waste time on lust because it brings
us quick short term pleasures and I amongst
others fear that this great desire for lust
is overwhelming our society.
And lust doesn’t just transmute sexually,
but physically and spiritually as well.
How many of us waste money on things we don’t
need?
How many of us buy that cool new phone or
car because it is shiny and new and will make
us feel good for a little bit?
How many of us lust over these things like
dogs, like the dogs which killed Actaeon the
Stag.
We are elevated beings not hungry dogs, so
let us act like it.
Let us pride ourselves in the discipline to
overcome lust and temptation.
Because the truth is those successful men
and women whose names will echo throughout
the ages did not succumb to lust, but instead
overcame it.
*tribal drumming*
