Song of Selene (historical slayer, G)
Title: Song of Selene
Author: Sami
Rating: G (I guess.)
Character: Historical slayer
Summary: A ancient Greek saga about a slayer in the Age of Heroes.
Note: Written in the style of the ancient Greeks storytellers for my Greek mythology class.
To the divine lady of the bow, powerful and fleet-footed, I dedicate this humble tale.
In the age of Heroes, when champions roamed the vastness of mother Ge, slaying monsters and did great deeds in the pursuit of good, there was one maiden in the service of Artemis who battled the centaurs of Arcadia, rescued the head-priestess of Hestia, and many more heroic deeds both noble and just.
However, I now speak of how this chosen maiden of Artemis, called Selene of Pylos, slew the dozen be-cursed blood drinkers who had committed sacrilege in the temple of Aphrodite. Some say Selene was the decedent of Neleus, founder of Pylos, or Pelias of the Golden Fleece. Those who are the most knowledgeable know her to be the daughter of Poseidon and Kiya, a royal maiden who had been walking along the Nile when Poseidon spotted her from Mt. Olympus and brought her to the coast of Pylos to be closer to him.
Their other daughter, Penelope, golden haired and pale armed, was the opposite of her warrior sister and became a devotee of laughter-loving Aphrodite. These twins, born of mortal mother and divine father, lived estranged for many years. Selene hunted monsters that plagued villages in the wild hills, she fought along side Amazons against pirates on the coast of Santorini, and trained huntresses in the proper worship of Artemis. Penelope rose in the temple of Aphrodite Urania to be the head priestess. Estemmed by their immortal father and cherished by their lovely mother, the twins grew in reputation. Many adventures and deeds are attributed to those sacred maidens, but none so famous and tragic as their battle against the blasphemers.
In the city of Olympia, many years before a band of barbarians thieves from the north, came down by the light of Selene in the Sky to the temple of Zeus in hopes of easy spoils in the majestic temple. Angered by this impiety, Zeus of the thunder bolts stepped down from Olympus in defense of the temple which scared the men into dropping their loot and fleeing. As the twelve pirates ran towards their river boats, wrathful Zeus invoked a curse upon them.
“By night, you came, by night you will remain. For the mere sight of Helias in his chariot will sicken your whole band of knaves. All grains will turn to ash at the touch of your lips. Twelve murderers stand before me, cowering in fear, hands strained with blood. Never know the peace of Elysian, I will curse you to wander the land of Gaia forever craving blood as other men crave wine.” Thus the God spoke and thus it would be.
For more than a score of years, the dozen wandered by nightfall, more beast than men, searching for a cure. The leader of the cursed gang consulted the oracle at Delphi, inspired by Apollo, who told him that his quest would come to an end at the great temple of Aphrodite in Paphos on the island of Cyprus if they attacked the temple. In great haste, they headed for Cyprus certain that the curse would soon be broken.
Nearby in Asia Minor, Selene of the Sword heard word of the siege and out of filial love for Penelope, sailed at once to the temple of Aphrodite Urania, she of the pure and noble love.
After sacrificing to chaste Artemis, Selene reached the temple when Apollo, divine son of Leto, was halfway across the sky. She embraced Penelope and the sisters shed many tears of relief that neither was harmed.
Penelope told her the tale of how the dark warriors came by night and attacked their guards and the soldiers sent by the nearest king. “We know not where they hide during the day,” she said.
“Fear not, sister, in the service of the Huntress, I shall lay a trap for these men at sunset. My sword will teach them humility before the Gods.” Selene tapped on the hilt of her sword with bejeweled fingers.
“Dear sister, iron affects them not. A wise woman of the hills told us, Zeus came to her in a dream to say only the wood of an oak, the sacred tree of the master of Olympus, could destroy them.” Penelope warned.
Selene heeded those words and walked deep into a forest while the sun was high to fetch herself the sacred wood. She whittled sharp-pointed stakes before returning when she became lost in the trees and it was after dark before she found her way back.
Chaos awaited her at the temple as the immortal thieves chased priestesses and fought soldiers. A novice in the worship of Aphrodite, she of the slender limbs, said before taking her last breath that the leader of the horrid band had taken Penelope to the sacred chamber of the temple.
Running to her sister's rescue, Selene fought with the divine strength of Artemis behind her as the goddess herself, pulled out her golden arrows and took to the battlefield. Artemis, daughter of mighty Zeus, and borne by Leto at Ortygia, sent the arrows, made by the godly hands of Hephaestus, straight through the heart to show Selene how to defeat the impious gang. Stabbing be-cursed blasphemer after blasphemer in the chest, she made her way into the awe-inspiring marble antechamber and through the dim mysterious hall that led to the room where only the priestesses may enter.
Penelope lay prone on the altar with bite marks on her neck while the leader of the notorious thieves searched the room asking himself, “Where ever could the cure be?”
Selene rushed in, with her weapon of sacred oak held steady in her hands, and slew the one who had so violated the home of Aphrodite. Thus the oracle's prophesy came true; his quest did end after he attacked the temple.
It is said that upon finding her sister, still and breathless, that Selene wept until Artemis took pity on the girl and turned her into a star. Also said is that Selene was rewarded by Aphrodite by being reunited with her sister in the Elysian Fields. Most say that is the end of the tale, but those who know the truth, however, tell of a more tragic finish. Penelope wasn't dead, but something far worse... The leader of the thieves had passed his curse onto her and she rose up in a great hunger to feed off her sister, too deep in grief to fight, before they escaped into the darkness where they wander to this day forsaken by the Gods and barred from the kingdom of Hades.
This is why wise men stay indoors when the sun goes down.
Author: Sami
Rating: G (I guess.)
Character: Historical slayer
Summary: A ancient Greek saga about a slayer in the Age of Heroes.
Note: Written in the style of the ancient Greeks storytellers for my Greek mythology class.
To the divine lady of the bow, powerful and fleet-footed, I dedicate this humble tale.
In the age of Heroes, when champions roamed the vastness of mother Ge, slaying monsters and did great deeds in the pursuit of good, there was one maiden in the service of Artemis who battled the centaurs of Arcadia, rescued the head-priestess of Hestia, and many more heroic deeds both noble and just.
However, I now speak of how this chosen maiden of Artemis, called Selene of Pylos, slew the dozen be-cursed blood drinkers who had committed sacrilege in the temple of Aphrodite. Some say Selene was the decedent of Neleus, founder of Pylos, or Pelias of the Golden Fleece. Those who are the most knowledgeable know her to be the daughter of Poseidon and Kiya, a royal maiden who had been walking along the Nile when Poseidon spotted her from Mt. Olympus and brought her to the coast of Pylos to be closer to him.
Their other daughter, Penelope, golden haired and pale armed, was the opposite of her warrior sister and became a devotee of laughter-loving Aphrodite. These twins, born of mortal mother and divine father, lived estranged for many years. Selene hunted monsters that plagued villages in the wild hills, she fought along side Amazons against pirates on the coast of Santorini, and trained huntresses in the proper worship of Artemis. Penelope rose in the temple of Aphrodite Urania to be the head priestess. Estemmed by their immortal father and cherished by their lovely mother, the twins grew in reputation. Many adventures and deeds are attributed to those sacred maidens, but none so famous and tragic as their battle against the blasphemers.
In the city of Olympia, many years before a band of barbarians thieves from the north, came down by the light of Selene in the Sky to the temple of Zeus in hopes of easy spoils in the majestic temple. Angered by this impiety, Zeus of the thunder bolts stepped down from Olympus in defense of the temple which scared the men into dropping their loot and fleeing. As the twelve pirates ran towards their river boats, wrathful Zeus invoked a curse upon them.
“By night, you came, by night you will remain. For the mere sight of Helias in his chariot will sicken your whole band of knaves. All grains will turn to ash at the touch of your lips. Twelve murderers stand before me, cowering in fear, hands strained with blood. Never know the peace of Elysian, I will curse you to wander the land of Gaia forever craving blood as other men crave wine.” Thus the God spoke and thus it would be.
For more than a score of years, the dozen wandered by nightfall, more beast than men, searching for a cure. The leader of the cursed gang consulted the oracle at Delphi, inspired by Apollo, who told him that his quest would come to an end at the great temple of Aphrodite in Paphos on the island of Cyprus if they attacked the temple. In great haste, they headed for Cyprus certain that the curse would soon be broken.
Nearby in Asia Minor, Selene of the Sword heard word of the siege and out of filial love for Penelope, sailed at once to the temple of Aphrodite Urania, she of the pure and noble love.
After sacrificing to chaste Artemis, Selene reached the temple when Apollo, divine son of Leto, was halfway across the sky. She embraced Penelope and the sisters shed many tears of relief that neither was harmed.
Penelope told her the tale of how the dark warriors came by night and attacked their guards and the soldiers sent by the nearest king. “We know not where they hide during the day,” she said.
“Fear not, sister, in the service of the Huntress, I shall lay a trap for these men at sunset. My sword will teach them humility before the Gods.” Selene tapped on the hilt of her sword with bejeweled fingers.
“Dear sister, iron affects them not. A wise woman of the hills told us, Zeus came to her in a dream to say only the wood of an oak, the sacred tree of the master of Olympus, could destroy them.” Penelope warned.
Selene heeded those words and walked deep into a forest while the sun was high to fetch herself the sacred wood. She whittled sharp-pointed stakes before returning when she became lost in the trees and it was after dark before she found her way back.
Chaos awaited her at the temple as the immortal thieves chased priestesses and fought soldiers. A novice in the worship of Aphrodite, she of the slender limbs, said before taking her last breath that the leader of the horrid band had taken Penelope to the sacred chamber of the temple.
Running to her sister's rescue, Selene fought with the divine strength of Artemis behind her as the goddess herself, pulled out her golden arrows and took to the battlefield. Artemis, daughter of mighty Zeus, and borne by Leto at Ortygia, sent the arrows, made by the godly hands of Hephaestus, straight through the heart to show Selene how to defeat the impious gang. Stabbing be-cursed blasphemer after blasphemer in the chest, she made her way into the awe-inspiring marble antechamber and through the dim mysterious hall that led to the room where only the priestesses may enter.
Penelope lay prone on the altar with bite marks on her neck while the leader of the notorious thieves searched the room asking himself, “Where ever could the cure be?”
Selene rushed in, with her weapon of sacred oak held steady in her hands, and slew the one who had so violated the home of Aphrodite. Thus the oracle's prophesy came true; his quest did end after he attacked the temple.
It is said that upon finding her sister, still and breathless, that Selene wept until Artemis took pity on the girl and turned her into a star. Also said is that Selene was rewarded by Aphrodite by being reunited with her sister in the Elysian Fields. Most say that is the end of the tale, but those who know the truth, however, tell of a more tragic finish. Penelope wasn't dead, but something far worse... The leader of the thieves had passed his curse onto her and she rose up in a great hunger to feed off her sister, too deep in grief to fight, before they escaped into the darkness where they wander to this day forsaken by the Gods and barred from the kingdom of Hades.
This is why wise men stay indoors when the sun goes down.