Aphrodite's Curse: A Short Story

by Luciana Cavallaro

  The Child Beast

  Lessons in life can come in many forms and some more drastic than others. Witnessing firsthand the actions of my mother and how my father transformed made me realise no matter how hard you try to be honourable or just, one lapse in judgement can alter the lives of many. I became much more aware of what was happening and decided there and then to never walk around in oblivion. Ignorance is no excuse for not knowing what is happening or what to do.

  Life in the palace at Knossos had settled down and, for a long time peace reigned throughout the regions of the Mediterranean. Emissaries from the surrounding provinces and from nations afar visited regularly, bringing with them wares, glistening metals and lengths of splendiferous material. O what beautiful and multi-coloured dresses we had. Our craftsmen were the best in the world. They created glorious and exquisite jewellery that were sought after by traders. The expert workmanship of statuettes and the pottery were of such extraordinary perfection, people wanted to learn from our artisans. They would seek patronage from Father so they could live on the island and acquire these skills.

  Then a day came when the Goddess of Discord threw in her ball of mischief and something happened.

  A ship arrived from Athens, as it did every ninth year and on it were the fourteen young people pledged by King Aegeos. We did not know at the time but on it was a youth who went by the name of Theseus. He would become very famous in later years.

  I must give you a little background here.

  King Aegeos had no children, specifically no sons to declare as heir to the throne of Athens. When the king was visiting another ruler in the nearby realm of Troezen, he found this ruler had an unwed daughter. They married secretly and from their union, came Theseus. The Troezen king only agreed to the union because the oracle had foreseen his daughter would have a son who, one day, would become famous.

  King Aegeos returned to Athens alone, not wanting to let his enemies find out about his new wife. Before he left Troezen, the king hid his sword and sandals under a rock. He told his wife when their son was old enough to look for the boulder, find the gifts and then travel to Athens to claim his rightful place in the Royal Court of Athens. The Troezen king raised Theseus, who never knew about his parentage, until the day came when he was old enough to be told. On learning he was the son of the Athenian king, he found the items and set off for Athens.

  Once there, Theseus had to prove that he was indeed the son of the king. He managed to convince the old king he was his son and as one of his first acts as prince of Athens, killed the fifty sons of Pallas. A bit late for my poor brother.

  Theseus had been in Athens for about one year when Father sent a message to King Aegeos to fulfil the tribute as agreed. Theseus proposed he would take the place of one of the youths and pledged to kill the beast that feasted on the human offerings. His father did not want him to go. They had just become re-acquainted. Theseus said he would raise a black sail on his return as a show of his victory over the dreaded Minotaur. King Aegeos agreed but stipulated if the ship came back with a white sail, he would jump into the sea, for he would not be able to live another day without his son.

  There is something you should know about my half-brother Asterion. He is not entirely human. I can imagine what you are thinking. We were all repulsed. You can well understand my Father’s ire when he saw this… this… well, I do not really know how to express it.

  An abomination.

  There, I said it.

  It was horrendous! A baby, and yet not. Part human, with the head of bull. Even now it makes me shudder. How could Mother even conceive such a thing! The wet nurses refused to go near it, let alone feed. Not that I can blame them. Who would want the muzzle of a beast nursing at one’s breast? Poseidon’s wrath certainly had no bounds. Father was a changed man and mother, she took to her bed, never seen again. Perhaps she was shamed by her actions. Whatever it was, I never saw mother again.

  You see, the only way she could satisfy her lust, was to convince Daedalos to build a facsimile of a cow. Daedalos was a master in creating and building. There was no other in his league. Did you know he constructed wings for himself and his son Ikaros? He gathered feathers, big and small, and fixed them to a frame with thread and wax. Quite ingenious actually. No human had ever flown before and, to this day, they believe only gods have the ability. A mortal, anyone in fact, should not presume to think they have the powers of the gods. Unfortunately for Daedalos, his invention cost him dearly.

  I am digressing again. My apologies but I really need to tell you. I do not want to leave anything out.

  His son Ikaros was arrogant, even more than my brothers and he is not even of royal blood! I recall the day when he and Daedalos arrived at the palace and met with Father. I was about six but still the memory is as fresh as the day it happened. Ikaros did not want to leave Athens and all his friends, but his father had done something to upset the king and had to leave in a bit of a hurry. My Father, being a just man, offered Daedalos the position of Master Artisan at Knossos.

  Ikaros must have been thirteen or fourteen at the time and going through the changes that happen to boys at this age. I had seen and experienced it with my brothers. The attitude, I tell you! Even then, not really understanding everything, I wanted to see him punished. He was rude and obnoxious. How Father ignored the way he curled his lip, the derisive snorting and the one word answers, I could not fathom. If Glaukos or Deukalion behaved in that way, they would have been whipped. Well, maybe not whipped, but certainly punished.

  I could tell Father was not impressed and if Daedalos was not so sought after by other kingdoms, he would have probably turned them away. In spite of that, you cannot change the past, despite what happens. This I know!

  After some years living at the palace and working for Father, Daedalos made a terrible mistake. Father was angry for his disloyalty and locked him and his son up. To avoid punishment, Daedalos made wings. He warned Ikaros not to fly too high and close to the sun, but of course, the silly boy did not listen. I was told by someone who saw what happened: Ikaros leapt off a cliff, the wind caught him and, flapping the wings like a bird soared into the sky. He flew into the region of Helios and was heard boasting he could fly higher than a bird.

  I suppose what happened next was a little sad, but I cannot say he did not deserve it. You probably think me horrible for saying such a thing, but you did not know him. Only the gods and the birds are allowed to soar in the realm of Helios. The winged contraption could not withstand the heat from the sun, and the wax began to melt.

  Yes, that is right.

  Melt.

  At the start, the feathers fell one by one. Then the wax ran like water and Ikaros plummeted to the earth. It was not the ground he struck but the turquoise water of the Aegean. He lay on the surface for a few moments, broken. The man watched his son sink and disappear into the sea.

  Anyway to continue the story about the sacrificial tributes… on this day when the ship from Athens docked, the Athenians were ushered off quickly and marched towards the labyrinth. My sister, Ariadne was there, in her role as Mistress of the Labyrinth. It was her duty to lead a processional dance, as a sort of ritual performance not only to placate Asterion, but it also sent the human offerings into a trance. I guess it made them forget where they were and why.

  I only saw Asterion the one time, when he was cast into the labyrinth, and by the gods, I hope never to see him ever again! Father had Daedalos build the labyrinth. A cavernous prison from which there is no escape. When I was younger, I used to believe it was the kingdom of Hades. A dark, forbidding place where the shades roamed; home to untold horrors, like Cerberus. Imagine coming face to face with a three-headed dog, with a serpent for a tail and having dragon-heads appearing from his back and neck! I think I would have died from fright.

  Treachery

  The Goddess of Love can strike at the most inopportune times and unexpectedly. No-one is immune when it happens and in some cases is a joyous occa
sion. However, when it is one-sided, heartache and misery pounce, despair sets in and there is nothing you can do to stop it. You hope the other person one day feels the same way; you think of ways to make them take notice of you. But it’s the rejection that hurts the most.

  When Ariadne saw Theseus step off the ship, she became a victim of Aphrodite’s curse. It was love at first sight. Theseus was a virile man, handsome, brave and strong. His dark, wavy hair caressed his broad shoulders and chocolate brown eyes, could be warm and attentive at one moment yet calculating and shrewd the next. Ariadne was so smitten with Theseus that she made a decision that would affect our lives and the future of Knossos. Would she have done it if she knew what was to happen? I do not know. No one can predict the future except for the Oracle and even then her riddles are confusing.

  My sister went to Daedalos before he was imprisoned and asked him to help her. He gave her a ball of thread and a magical sword. Before the tributes entered the labyrinth, Ariadne completed her dance. She approached Theseus, handed him the thread and sword, explaining how to use them. When he asked why she was helping him, Ariadne told him the truth.

  Theseus was ushered into the labyrinth along with the other Athenians, but before he moved on, tied the end of the thread by the entrance door. As he ventured into the murky maze, the ball unravelled, leaving a trail. He led the way, deep into the labyrinth and eventually came face to face with Asterion. It was a short battle I’m told. With the magical sword in hand, Theseus was able to kill the Minotaur. With the thread in hand and his fellow Athenians in tow, they exited the labyrinth.

  Once again with Ariadne’s help, Theseus and the Athenian youths fled to the harbour. She told him to break the keels on the ships, so that Father could not pursue them. Ariadne left with Theseus knowing her betrayal to Father would not go unpunished. On the way to Athens they stopped at Naxos. Ariadne was happy because she was with her love and, Theseus was pleased for he had slain the monster and freed his Father from the tyrannical clutches of King Minos.

  There are two sides to the story after what happened next. According to Theseus, the God of Wine Dionysos came to him, claiming the Fates decreed Ariadne would be his wife and not Theseus’. He threatened Theseus saying if he did not leave her behind, then his life would be forfeited. You see, Theseus had intended to marry my sister, but given the god’s visitation, he had no choice but to give her up. An angry god is not one you quarrel with.

  To this day, he still is saddened by what happened that day.

  However, there is a terrible rumour going around professing otherwise. According to those who found Ariadne, they say Theseus fled in the middle of the night and, left her all alone on the beach; that he did not love her and did not want to marry her. That he had no intention to honour her for what she did. Why else would he leave her?

  We will never know the truth. I have not seen my sister since that day she fled with Theseus. As for my husband, he will not speak of it, saying that what happened in the past should remain where it belongs. There is some truth in that I suppose. We should look forward and never dwell on those bygone days.

  I wish the same could be said for unrequited love.

  As I have said, after all that has happened, life at Knossos was never the same.

  Theseus returned to Athens and learnt his father had jumped to his death. He had forgotten to put up the black sail as a sign of his triumph. So Theseus became the next king of Athens, went on many adventures and in his own time became a hero of the people. He set out to secure the lands of his provinces and met Hippolytos’ mother, an Amazon. As tradition demands and as a king of a powerful region, they brought him gifts. The bearer was a young and beautiful woman called Hippolyte.

  Enamoured by her, Theseus invited the young Amazonian onto his ship, and immediately set sail. She did not put up a fight as she was taken with him too. They married and had a son. However, the Amazons were angry at his deception and for kidnapping their princess, besieged Athens and took the city unawares. The war that followed was inevitable. It was bloody and many died, including Queen Hippolyte. Her death brought about a peace treaty between the two powers but an edict in the pact stated the Amazonians had to leave Athens.

  The Demise

  Rejection, betrayal, retribution. Every one of us has felt this way or acted upon these feelings at some time or another. Whatever the reasons, we all behave in a manner that may have resulted in an outcome not expected. Why, you ask? We seek to hit back those who hurt us and want to see they are punished. Are we not entitled to vengeance? For every action there is a reaction, whether it works out for the best or if it does not.

  When Father learned Daedalos had escaped he was furious. He set about to find the architect and had spies wander from region to region, country to country to find him. It took many years before, one day, a spy returned to say he found the man. Armed with this information, Father called for Deukalion, my eldest brother. He would rule Knossos in Father’s absence. Deukalion and Father’s advisers cautioned him against leaving Kretos, but the king had made up his mind.

  With a retinue of fifty oarsmen, Father left for the golden isle of Sicily. I did not know what he had planned and only found out when the news arrived home. Even though Father knew Daedalos was in Sicily, he did not know in which town or city. So he went from town to town, city to city. To find the architect, Father brought with him a puzzle. He presented a spiral seashell and asked to have it strung through. It was a difficult riddle to solve but Father knew one man could easily find a solution.

  He arrived in a city called Camicus, ruled by King Cocalus and presented the shell to him. The king had someone in his court work it out. Solving it was simplicity itself. A string was tied to an ant and set loose into the shell; it found a way out, and Father knew immediately that Daedalos had solved the riddle. Father demanded his hand-over. The king bided his time and suggested to Father that he bathe and when finished, the architect would be given into his custody.

  Father took him up on his offer. What happened next is just awful. While he readied himself for a bath, the king’s daughters arrived with the water, boiling water. He sat in the tub and the daughters positioned themselves around him. In unison, they poured the hot water over him. According to those who were in the palace at the time, Father’s terrible screams even made the most hard-hearted man go pale. His skin had blistered and in places the flesh was cooked. It was said the smell coming out of the room had loosened the contents of many stomachs. My Father burnt beyond recognition.

  The rule of King Minos’ was over. The palace of Knossos and Kretos would never the same.

  The Alliance

  My brother Deukalion took over as king and it was not long before the sharks came hunting. My brother is a good man but I do not think he was ready to rule and the advisers took advantage of his inexperience. However, I love my brother and the decisions he made were to protect and maintain the current state of affairs at Knossos and for all Kretans.

  I had grown up during this time. It was a testing time, for Father had ruled justly but with firmness. He did not suffer fools and would not blindly accept treaties or trade with other countries until he researched all tidings. He once told me it was imperative to gain as much knowledge of those you intend to collaborate with, for if the situation takes a turn, then it is of your own doing.

  I learnt a great deal from him and his words resonate even to this day. Every day, I would try to emulate my father’s tenets. You see, with my mother permanently incarcerated, I was the senior female in our household. I would lead processions and religious rituals; listen to female patrons in court and pass judgement; and my brother would consult with me on matters that needed to be discussed. I became renowned for not only my beauty but the wisdom to address even the most complex of issues. My reputation eventually reached the shores of Attica.

  The loss of our Father had weakened our situation and it soon became apparent that change was imperative. Knossos was a powerful empire
and our prominence still held sway. People were still in awe when they came to visit but this was waning. They saw through the cracks of our veneer. It did not take a genius to work out that the riches and power of Minos was diminishing.

  My brother had come to me one day with a proposition. It was one even Father would have approved. Deukalion had just returned from a friend’s wedding in Thessaly. While there, he and Theseus struck up a conversation. They spoke of me at length. The King of Athens had heard many pleasing things and made a suggestion that would benefit both kingdoms.

  Now, here was a man, hero across the lands of Hellas and the Aegean, who wanted to form an alliance through marriage. My brother agreed. How could one refuse such an offer? To be honest, I was flattered. This man of repute and fame wanted to marry me. Granted, the man was into his late manhood but that was not important. Our union would reinforce the supremacy of Knossos.

  

  Forgive me… I must set aside the stylus and hand it over to my nurse-maid. The hemlock is numbing my limbs and they grow heavy. Even now as I write, it is difficult to form the letters. My only hope is the poison will give me enough time to finish my story.

  

  The wedding was a glorious event. People wore wreaths of flowers on their heads, a symbol of good fortune; the perfume of blossoming almond and apple trees beguiled and tantalised the air; the sea of poppies: purple, white and red carpeted the plains. A field of vibrant colours: saffron yellow, sapphire, emerald and sienna, the marvellous attire of Kretans filled the West Court. It was a vision of splendour.

  Musicians, acrobats and dancers headed the festivities. Their performances echoed the glorious past of Knossos and optimism for the future. A bull was sacrificed, honouring the sea god Poseidon and sanctifying our matrimony.