Helios, a photo from Magnisia, Thessaly

Photographer's Note

Helios
In Greek mythology the sun was personified as Helios (pronounced /ˈhiliˌɑs/) (Greek: Ἥλιος, Latinized as Helius). Homer often calls him simply Titan or Hyperion, while Hesiod (Theogony 371) and the Homeric Hymn separate him as a son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia (Hesiod) or Euryphaessa (Homeric Hymn) and brother of the goddesses Selene, the moon, and Eos, the dawn. The names of these three were also the common Greek words for sun, moon and dawn.

Helios was imagined as a handsome god crowned with the shining aureole of the sun, who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day to earth-circling Oceanus and through the world-ocean returned to the East at night. Homer described Helios's chariot as drawn by solar bulls (Iliad xvi.779); later Pindar described it as drawn by "fire-darting steeds" (Olympian Ode 7.71). Still later, the horses were given fiery names: Pyrios, Aeos, Aethon, and Phlegon.

As time passed, Helios was increasingly identified with the god of light, Apollo. The equivalent of Helios in Roman mythology was Sol, specifically Sol Invictus.

Greek mythology

The best known story involving Helios is that of his son Phaëton, who attempted to drive his father's chariot but lost control and set the earth on fire.

Helios was sometimes referred to with the epithet Helios Panoptes ("the all-seeing"). In the story told in the hall of Alcinous in the Odyssey (viii.300ff), Aphrodite, the consort of Hephaestus secretly beds Ares, but all-seeing Helios spies on them and tells Hephaestus, who ensnares the two lovers in nets invisibly fine, to punish them.

In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his surviving crew land on Thrinacia, an island sacred to the sun god, whom Circe names Hyperion rather than Helios. There, the sacred red cattle of the sun were kept:

“
You will now come to the Thrinacian island, and here you will see many herds of cattle and flocks of sheep belonging to the sun-god. There will be seven herds of cattle and seven flocks of sheep, with fifty heads in each flock. They do not breed, nor do they become fewer in number, and they are tended by the goddesses Phaethusa and Lampetia, who are children of the sun-god Hyperion by Neaera. Their mother when she had borne them and had done suckling them sent them to the Thrinacian island, which was a long way off, to live there and look after their father's flocks and herds.[1]”

Though Odysseus warns his men not to, they impiously kill and eat some of the cattle of the Sun. The guardians of the island, Helios' daughters, tell their father, and Helios appeals to Zeus, who destroys the ship and kills all the men except for Odysseus.

In one Greek vase painting, Helios appears riding across the sea in the cup of the Delphic tripod which appears to be a solar reference. Athenaeus in Deipnosophistae relates that, at the hour of sunset, Helios climbed into a great golden cup in which he passes from the Hesperides in the farthest west to the land of the Ethiops, with whom he passes the dark hours. While Heracles traveled to Erytheia to retrieve the cattle of Geryon, he crossed the Libyan desert and was so frustrated at the heat that he shot an arrow at Helios, the sun. Helios begged him to stop and Heracles demanded the golden cup which Helios used to sail across the sea every night, from the west to the east. Heracles used this golden cup to reach Erytheia.[2]

Helios and Apollo

Helios is sometimes identified with Apollo; "Different names may refer to the same being," Walter Burkert observes, "or else they may be consciously equated, as in the case of Apollo and Helios."[3]

In Homer, Apollo is clearly identified as a different god, a plague-dealer with a silver (not golden) bow and no solar features.

The earliest certain reference to Apollo identified with Helios appears in the surviving fragments of Euripides' play Phaethon in a speech near the end (fr 781 N²), Clymene, Phaethon's mother, laments that Helios has destroyed her child, that Helios whom men rightly call Apollo (the name Apollo is here understood to mean Apollon "Destroyer").

By Hellenistic times Apollo had become closely connected with the sun in cult. His epithet Phoebus "shining", drawn from Helios, was later also applied by Latin poets to the sun-god Sol.
Coin of Roman Emperor Constantine I depicting Sol Invictus/Apollo with the legend SOLI INVICTO COMITI, c. 315.
Coin of Roman Emperor Constantine I depicting Sol Invictus/Apollo with the legend SOLI INVICTO COMITI, c. 315.

The identification became a commonplace in philosophic texts and appears in the writing of Parmenides, Empedocles, Plutarch and Crates of Thebes among others, as well as appearing in some Orphic texts. Pseudo-Eratosthenes writes about Orpheus in Catasterismi, section 24: "But having gone down into Hades because of his wife and seeing what sort of things were there, he did not continue to worship Dionysus, because of whom he was famous, but he thought Helios to be the greatest of the gods, Helios whom he also addressed as Apollo. Rousing himself each night toward dawn and climbing the mountain called Pangaion, he would await the sun's rising, so that he might see it first. Therefore Dionysus, being angry with him, sent the Bassarides, as Aeschylus the tragedian says; they tore him apart and scattered the limbs."[citation needed]

Dionysus and Asclepius are sometimes also identified with this Apollo Helios.[citation needed]

Classical Latin poets also used Phoebus as a byname for the sun-god, whence come common references in later European poetry to Phoebus and his car ("chariot") as a metaphor for the sun. But in particular instances in myth, Apollo and Helios are distinct. The sun-god, the son of Hyperion, with his sun chariot, though often called Phoebus ("shining") is not called Apollo except in purposeful non-traditional identifications. Roman poets often referred to the sun god as Titan.[citation needed]

Despite these identifications, Apollo was never actually described by the Greek poets driving the chariot of the sun, although it was common practice among Latin poets.

For more info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios

My new toy a Canon EOS. I'm just thrilled, wish me luck!!!

Sanderson-Brown, Waylim, maria, paololg, Clementi, ribeiroantonio, avene, greek, TopGeo, izmirli, danos, ARGI, ifanik, siamesa, gracious, salvator, belido, dip, Paul65, bostankorkulugu, Graal, ruisc_pt, kiwi_explorer, bracasha75, jhm, Cretense, trekks, Budapestman, Hendrika, ahmetgedikli, savask, Xalkida, bertolucci, MayaG, makis, zhelach, kpav, jorgi, zmey, sotirios, elitsa, jusninasirun, Vames, parbo marcou esta nota como útil

Critiques | Translate

Sanderson-Brown (6) 2008-07-22 14:33

Hi Argiris,
the perfect moment, you caught this at the optimal point. well framed and with a very interesting note.
thanks for sharing
regards
Paul

Waylim (25436) 2008-07-22 14:38

Argiris,
the image is tunning, beautiful sunset, the way the sun light shinning through the cloud is just magical. composition is great, technically all is just fine, you should be really happy with you new camera. congratulations! I don't really care for the frame with all the lines, it take alway attention from your image, I think the image is so beautiful you don't need the lines, just white border is enough.
Way

maria (3288) 2008-07-22 14:48

Hi Argiris,
Your notes are always so interesting and informative, it's a pleasure to read them.
Beautiful image with a gorgeous range of tones, particularly those on the water surface.
Regards,
Maria

MarianneS (15338) 2008-07-22 14:52

Hello Argiris,
A nice sunset, with warm colours.
The whole sky and the whole sea are transformed, shared by a strong contrast. Well done.
Regards,
Marianne

lousat (139220) 2008-07-22 14:54

Hi Argiris,this pic is a great beauty,not a usual sunset,perfect choice of time of exposure,wonderfull colors and very nice landscape,my best compliments,Luciano

paololg (31448) 2008-07-22 14:56

Ciao Argiris,
absolutely amazing and suggestive. Surely the your new Canon is a good toy, but cleverness is yours. The colors are pleasantly saturated and the light gives a mystical feeling. Really an excellent work, compliments.
Ciao
Paolo.

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-07-22 15:37

Hi Argiris
Beautiful Greek sunset, some of the best in Europe they are. Love the cloud defintion with half the sun missing. It is giving of beautiful rays. A perfect tone of orange which compliments the blacks. Very gorgeous capture
Regards
Jim

tomescuc (3291) 2008-07-22 15:45

Like a painting. I like the tones a lot.
cheers,
CT

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-07-22 16:44

This is a sky and a sunset that many photographers can only dream. It is simply wonderful. For the picture I really believe that a wider white (only) frame would suit better the beauty of the scenery. Well done.
Antonio

avene (12675) 2008-07-22 19:44

hello Argiris,
if I read your interesting note right, your Cannon EOS should be called "dawn" :) definitely a fitting name for a fine camera [and this is me with my Nikon saying that :)], and definitely a great shot to celebrate your new toy. I've come to think about these golden colours as your trademark, especially in combination with red, and here once again you show them beautifully, with the rays of the sun that look like melted amber. excellent work, my compliments.

with best regards,
Kristine

mesutilgim (0) 2008-07-22 21:15

Hi dear Argiris,
I personally do not like the "sunset"s that much (as it reminds me to another step towards the end) but here you captured not only a sunset but a perfect and almost apocalypt scene with wonderfull details. And your notes make this entry a perfect TE job.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

greek (7594) 2008-07-22 23:42

poly entyposiako, eidylliako, aristotexnika dosmeno, galantis

bema (26591) 2008-07-22 23:49

Kalimera Agiris,

poli kala fotografia, only one to say: a perfect sunset scenery and well captured..

Best regards and Jassu Bernd

Clementi (52514) 2008-07-23 0:43

Ciao Argiris,
you compliment on the new canon, he works very well. excellent soft colours of a beautiful sunset,
interesting note.
nice work
Giorgio

faubry (35447) 2008-07-23 0:48

bonjour Argiris, wonderful sunset light..i like this lioght through cloudy sky. congratulation
francine

TopGeo (38220) 2008-07-23 1:01

Γειά σου Αργύρη!
Με το καλό το νέο σου εργαλείο! Καλές δουλειές. Κάτι είδα για Ζαγορά? Καλή επιτυχία.
Εδώ έβαλες τα δυνατά σου και την Canon σε ενέργεια και αποτύπωσες μια εικόνα ειδυλλιακού δειλινού!
Χαιρετώ σε
Γεώργιος

izmirli (3989) 2008-07-23 1:06

kalimera my friend argiris
magnificent sunset and atmosphere.magnificent colours and silhouettes.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

danos (110407) 2008-07-23 1:41

Αργύρη καλημέρα,
ωραίο το ηλιοβασίλεμα με τον ήλιο κρυμμένο στα σύννεφα και τις ακτίνες του να δημιουργούν αυτό το καταπληκτικό κίτρινο.Οι αντανακλάσεις στην επιφάνεια της θάλασσας και οι σιλουέτες των δέδρων δημιουργούν ένα ονειρεμένο σκηνικό.

Σε χαιρετώ,Δάνος

athanvas (2369) 2008-07-23 2:28

Geia sou Argiri
Ta xrwmata pou vgenoun apo ton krimeno hlio einai yperoxa kai oi silouetes kataplhktikes,
Sygxaritiria,Vasilis

ARGI (3456) 2008-07-23 2:31

Οτι και να πω ειναι λιγο φιλε μου !
Ο τιτλος και η σημειωση ειναι εξαιρετικα.
Καδρο + χρωματα = εξοχα.
συγχαρητηρια
Α

ifanik (21679) 2008-07-23 2:36

Ejairetikh file moy
Den exw logia
Ena apo ta pio omorfa poy exw dei
Xairetw
Nikos

siamesa (28231) 2008-07-23 4:11

Hi Argiris,
I have a brother named Helio. This is a splendid picture and an interesting and informative note. Congratulations my friend.
All the best.
Regards
maria

gracious (20025) 2008-07-23 5:01

My friend Argiris,
This is truly a beautiful well captured and composed in the best beauty of nature that offering us! much appreciated for the effort to share with us!
best pov with great colouration and superb details in the image to view and enjoy!
my compliment for such quality posting from Greece and with the awesome notes!
take care and sincere regards
Tony

salvator (19110) 2008-07-23 5:51

Yasu Argiris,
Wonderful colors of the setting sun. The orange colors and the suns rays shining thru, the clouds look superb.
Se xereto. Salvator.

belido (19934) 2008-07-23 6:33

Hi Argiris,

very attractive image. The Sun partially hidden by the clouds creates an interesting effect. I also like the silhouettes of the trees and the reflection on the water. Really good work!
Regards,
Carlos

iason (459) 2008-07-23 8:37

Γεια σου Αργυρη!!!!
Εντυπωσιακο ηλιοβασιλεμα και πολυ ωραια επαξεργασια!!!
Με κανεις να νοσταλγω τη θαλασσα παροτι με εχουν ενθουσιασει τα γιαννενα!!!!!

dip (21408) 2008-07-23 13:08

Geia sou Argiri,
kat'arxin megeia i kainourgia kamera,an kai ton proto rolo gia mia kali fotografia ton exei o fotografos kai meta to mixanima,alla eimai sigouros oti sta xeria sou tha kanei thaumata,
fantastiki lipsi travigmeni tin katalili stigmi,poli kalo kontrast kai ekplitika xromata!
bravo kai gia to makroskeles alla endeiaferon simeioma,
xaireto,
Dimitris.

LamCam (3717) 2008-07-23 14:28

Hello Argyri, This is a particularly intense, fiery sunset The dark red at its centre glows like hot lava very dramatically. The description of the Sun God in his chariot fits this image perfectly!
Best wishes....Maggie

barrufeto_77 (28888) 2008-07-23 15:14

Hi Argiris.

Impressive picture! The colours and the sun behind the cloud are excellent!

Rgs, Oscar

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2008-07-23 22:03

yes you are right, the sun looks divine in this one argiri... a magical sunset shot indeed in fantastic tones... ta leme file...

Paul65 (1402) 2008-07-23 22:06

Hi Argiris!
A very nice sunset. You choose the perfect moment to take photo. Beautiful image with a amazing warm colours.
Congratulations!
Greetings from Poland.
Paul.

Graal (103040) 2008-07-23 23:33

Kalimera Argiris,
beautiful landscape, good POV and pp. Interesting note, well informations. Good work of new EOS and Your, too.
Gr., Aleksander

aadilj (18102) 2008-07-24 4:30

Thats such a magical composition with divine colorus and etxtures spread across the horizon. Youve seen and shot this frame very well. Superb and great

hatti52 (12786) 2008-07-24 4:32

Hi Argiris,
absolutely wonderful sunset
excellent colours and rays
thanks for your informative notes
regards

Silvio1953 (221525) 2008-07-24 7:07

Hi Argiris, fascinating sunset with superb sky, fantastic colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

ruisc_pt (11594) 2008-07-24 8:08

Great photo Argiris.
fantastic pov woderfull lighting with great details
TFS
R

trekks (14348) 2008-07-24 8:44

hi Argiris

A great moment's capture of the sunset mood with this splendid color tone of the sky and good exposure. Well composed view and how nice to be here for a pause.

tfs, bill

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2008-07-24 17:33

Hi Argiris,
That is one dramatic scene .... I like the way you captured the sun partially hidden in the clouds as this made overall lighting easier to the eyes. I also like the slight ripple in the water giving your foreground some texture. Well captured and composed with very good image quality! Tfs and have a nice weekend.
Cheers,
Renier

bracasha75 (24591) 2008-07-24 23:48

Hi Argiris
Amaizing beautiful moment of nature and eternity
Great shot and i ,m very satisfied with this great note
TFS
Cheers,Braca

jhm (211736) 2008-07-25 3:16

Hello Argiris,

This is a beautiful picture with the sun to the horzont.
What a nice light with the clouds before the sun.
A perfect moment, you caught this at the optimal point.
Composition and presentation are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

stelli (3009) 2008-07-25 5:20

It looks extremely divine and it's intimidating feeling that we are under "his" power!!! Great colors and composition! Thank you for sharing! ΦΙΛΙΚΑ Στέλλα

zeynepe (0) 2008-07-25 7:52

Hi Argiris ,
Sun-Rays, Sun-Rays, Sun-Rays
Superb , Superb, Superb.
Magnificent sunset colours and silhouettes:)
Have a nice weekend,
Zeynep

Cretense (68709) 2008-07-25 8:26

Geia sou Argyri!

O ilios o iliatoras se megales stigmes, me mia ventalia apo synnefa, na min katafernei na ton empodisei, antithetos prosthetei sti dynami kai ti mageia tou! i diaxeirisi tou fotos einai ypodeigmatiki, mporoume na doume sxedon kathe aktina na xeprovalei apo ta synnefa! Magika zesta xromata, exairetiko kadro kai synthesi! Sygxaritiria!

Iraklis

Budapestman (82620) 2008-07-26 7:57

Hi Argiris,
Fabled shot with wonderful colours and lights its so than a romantic painting. The composition is spectacular, beautiful work, Congratulations. Have a nice weekend
George

Hendrika (655) 2008-07-26 13:38

Hi Argiris,

You always sure know how to best capture the sky.
A very warm atmosphere again.
I see that you fully enjoy your new toy - read the manual yet?

TFS
Els

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2008-07-27 1:18

Hi Argiris,
Superb sunset composition... Excellent colors, light and contrast. I like it.
Have a nice sunday.
Ahmet

Xalkida (11744) 2008-07-27 22:08

Λένε ότι μεγάλο μέρος της επιτυχίας μια φωτογραφίας οφείλεται και στο να είσαι την κατάλληλη στιγμή στο κατάλληλο μέρος. Τα υπόλοιπα έπονται...

Εδώ έχουμε αυτό ακριβώς: η κατάλληλη στιγμή για το θέμα συναντά την υψηλή τεχνική.

Hellas (7123) 2008-07-28 4:36

Πολύ καλό κάδρο και χρώμα! Διαχειρίστηκες άψογα το διαθέσιμο φως ώστε η έκθεση να είναι σωστή. Η στιγμή που ο ήλιος ήταν μισοκρυμμένος στο σύννεφο ήταν σαφώς η κατάλληλη.
Θερμά συγχαρητήρια!

toto (0) 2008-07-29 5:53

Bonjours,
belle photo de ce coucher de soleil superbe.
Belle prise sous un bon POV et avec une réussite magnifique, ces rayons qui ressortent ainsi en éventail sont du plus bel effet.
Jolies couleurs douce et luminosité parfaite pour ce genre de prise.

Amitiés Thomas

kadirim (879) 2008-07-30 1:52

Kalimera Argiris
Excellent sunset and atmosphere.Wonderful colours and silhouettes.Well done.
Best regards.
KadiR.

carper (96) 2008-07-30 2:16

I make a full house.
marvelous backligth shot here Argiris,
another good landscape of you hand, good quality, marvelous atmosphere, you did do a great job here, congratiolation,have a nice day.
gr. jaap

bertolucci (14052) 2008-07-30 2:50

Kalimera Argiri,
What a beautiful sunburst you captured here in the glorious colours that befit a homage to the sun. Very well composed and rendered too.
Beautiful work and congrats with the 400D - it's a very able cam.
Have a fine week,
Bert

MayaG (2415) 2008-07-30 14:38

Congratulations on your new camera and good luck!! ;)) With inspiration like yours, dear Argiri, its not about luck though...
Another wonderful sunset from you. I love Greek mythology, so I loved the note. Evharisto!
many regards
Marija

testmaniac (13508) 2008-08-01 4:50

Hi Argiris,great composed photo and great sunset. Nice colors indeed.

TFS and regards,
Phil

makis (306) 2008-08-01 8:30

Geia sou Zafeirh,
panemorfh fwtografia me eksairetika xrwmata kai epilegmenes silouetes. Sou euxomai polu diaksedash me thn 400D. Auth h fwtografia mas kanei na fantastoume ta apotelesmata pou mporoume na perimenoume!!
Xairetismous
Thwmas

Krokiet (79) 2008-08-03 3:01

Hello Azaf1,

This photo is very amazig. realy wonderful sun colors... excelent! Good frame shot.

Peter

zhelach (3626) 2008-08-07 10:28

Hello Argiris!
Great sunset shot! Wonderful greek mythology!
Amazing lights, colors and silhouettes!
TFS, Best regards
Zorica

kpav (5031) 2008-08-24 3:03

Γεια σου Αργύρη, υπέροχη εικόνα με μοναδική ατμόσφαιρα και τον μισοκρυμμένο ήλιο να σκορπάει τις ακτίνες του στον ουρανό. Απίθανα ζεστά χρώματα, μαγευτικός φωτισμός. Σε χαιρετώ,
Κώστας.

jorgi (3810) 2008-09-07 1:48

Hi Argiris,

it has been a while...As i can read you have a new toy :) And already such a magnificent shot! I love perfectly chosen point of view. It looks like clouds and trees made a gap for sun to shine in all its glory and beauty. Colours are simply wow, everything just as it should be. Marvelous.

regards,
Jeri

zmey (7335) 2008-10-16 4:41

kalispera argiris
fantastic helios portrait. very well managed exposure and beutiful composition. and let me compliment you on an excellent note too!

regards,
kristaps

sotirios (20) 2008-10-17 6:14

Γεια σου Αργύρη
πολύ όμορφη στιγμή την οποία αοτύπωσες πολύ ωραία. Το χρώμα πολύ καλό. Η αντίθεση που δημιουργήθηκε φωτογραφίζοντας τον ήλιο σπάει από το σωστό καδράρισμά σου που έχει την θάλασσα σε πρώτο πλάνο.
χαιρετισμούς Σωτήρης

elitsa (509) 2008-10-25 2:54

Hi Argiris,
You caught a beautiful moment.. Emotional sunset and dramatic image! I like it very much:) And very interesting note (as usually). Compliments!
elitsa

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-11-03 0:36

Hi Argiris. Amazing bust of fan like rays across the sky. The trees giving the gap for the glow is well captured and very well done indeed. Regards. Jusni

Ptitcaid (656) 2008-11-25 11:13

Bonjour Argiris,
Ce ciel est trés beau avec les nuages qui cachent le soleil, ses reflets sont trés beaux ! ! !
L'avant-plan est trés beau !
Bravo !
Salut ! P'tit Caïd

papadimitriou (128) 2008-11-30 3:28

ÊáëçìÝñá Áñãýñç,

Ôá óõã÷áñçôÞñéÜ ìïõ ãéá ôçí êáôáðëçêôéêÞ óõëëïãÞ óïõ

Óïõ åý÷ïìáé íá Ý÷åéò ìéá õðÝñï÷ç ìÝñá

ÃéÜííçò

Vames (4356) 2008-12-05 11:48

γεια σου Αργύρη,εδώ έχεις πιάσει μια στιγμή με τέλειες χρωματικές αποχρώσεις !το βάθος της λήψης ξεχωριστό!

parbo (11092) 2008-12-12 16:06

Kalimera Argiri,

Congratulations for your Photography Exhibition at the Historic Library of Zagora and sorry that I already missed your exhibition due to less connectivity to internet during our vacation around same period. I believe you performed a successful exhibition.

I like splendid reddish sunset colors and silhouettes of high poplar trees. The sun beams after clouds are fantastic with reflections on water. Congratulations. Ευθυμίες.

Χαιρετισμούς,

Ertugrul

Photo Information

Copyright: Argiris Zafeiridis (azaf1) (15931)
Genre: Lugares
Medium: Cor
Date Taken: 2008-07-22
Categories: Natureza
Exposição: f/8, 1/100 segundos
More Photo Info: view
Versão da Foto: Versão Original, Workshop
Tema(s): Seascapes from Greece [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-22 14:30
Favoritos: 1 [ver]

Viewed: 6267

Points: 132

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