greek mythology stuff

16 Pandora

Mount Olympus, the palace of the gods on the top of the mountain.

God King Zeus and Queen Hera sat on the golden throne. Except for Athena, the goddess of wisdom, all the famous and powerful gods present were Hades, the ruler of the underworld, Poseidon, the sea god, and Aphrodite, the beauty god. Hestia, goddess of unknown power, Themis, goddess of justice, Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, and Demeter, goddess of fertility.

In the center of the palace is a statue of a woman that Zeus walked away from Hephaestus.

Without exception, all the gods present were silent.

It’s not that they don’t want to say something, it’s that Zeus’s words are too shocking, human’s belief can become a ladder for the gods to step on the great power and break the shackles...

Even knowing that Zeus was looking for an ally to jointly fight against the pressure from the great divine power, they were still moved.

Incomparable power, this is something that every god can hardly give up...

Among the powerful divine gods invited by Zeus, only Hephaestus explicitly refused on the grounds of 'no need for belief, no tribute'.

Inside the palace, Hades, the lord of the underworld, took the lead to break the silence:
"Zeus, what are you going to do?"

"What about your plan?"

What Hades asked was also what the gods present wanted to ask. They must examine the risks and benefits. Now the risks are big enough, but the benefits are not enough.

But Zeus already had a plan in mind, and he told the gods: "I have observed human beings for a hundred years, and I have been believed by human beings for a hundred years."

"For a hundred years, although Prometheus has obstructed it, human beings have not been devout in my belief."

"but!"

"I still took another step on the long road of powerful divine power."

Speaking of Zeus released his own divine power, his power was glimpsed by the gods, and he was faintly the best of the gods, similar to Hades, the ruler of the underworld.

There was a deathly silence among the gods.

They couldn't be more clear about the strength of Zeus a hundred years ago. If the gods present had to be divided into one, then Hades must be the strongest, followed by Hestia, Zeus, Themis, and Poseidon. , Mnemosyne, Demeter, Aphrodite.

In a hundred years, rising from the third place to being tied with Hades, the master of the underworld, is simply unimaginable for the strength of the gods who have improved in units of ten thousand years.

Hades narrowed his eyes when he saw this, and he pointed out succinctly: "The number of human beings is not enough."

"You trapped Prometheus, we have lost the gods who created humans."

"This kind of grand occasion is difficult to reproduce."

Regarding Hades' question, Zeus gestured with his eyes, and Athena stood up, and he explained like the gods:
"This is my daughter Athena, who created mankind with Prometheus."

"She secretly withheld part of Prometheus' divine power."

"We can use this part of the divine power to create women and give them to humans so that they can reproduce freely."

"If this continues, the number of human beings will soon spread all over the land."

"Be... our food."

"Everyone, what do you think?"

Hades exhaled, and the cold from the dead country condensed into frost in the air: "I agree with your plan, on the premise that human beings must build my temple, fear me, and fear death."

Aphrodite, God of Beauty: "I also agree that human beings should build my temple and regard me as the most beautiful goddess."

Themis, Goddess of Justice: "I agree, but humans don't need to believe in me. They should believe in my three daughters and build temples for them."

Mnemosyne, Goddess of Memory: "I am the same as Sister Themis. Human beings must believe in my nine daughters. I am tired of their inaction."

Poseidon, the god of the sea: "I agree, treat me as the god of the sea, and I will return the gift."

Demeter, Goddess of Fertility: "I agree."

The queen Hera shares the throne with Zeus, and her opinion need not be considered.

After the gods present who could influence the pattern of the gods spoke one by one, only the goddess Hestia remained.

She is the eldest daughter of the former God King Cronus and the Goddess of Time Rhea, and the sister of Hades, Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, etc. She has no spouse and no scandals. A rare goddess of chastity.

No one dared to despise her opinion, and no one could despise her.

All the gods present turned their attention to the goddess, waiting for her to express their request.

Hestia was not in a hurry. A cluster of pale flames swam in her hands. This flame seemed to indicate that her mood had gradually calmed down after hearing that the path of great divine power was burning.

"I'm not involved," said Hestia.

"What you are going to do has nothing to do with me."

"But you don't have to worry, I just don't participate."

The gods looked at each other, this was not the answer they wanted.

The atmosphere became eerie.

In the end, Hera on the golden throne came out to smooth things over. She was in charge of marriage authority, hated all people or things that destroyed the happiness of marriage, and was a close friend with the chaste Hestia.

She pointed to the statue of the maiden in the center of the palace and said: "This is the first woman decided to be given to mankind. She will bring disaster to mankind, so that mankind will believe in us more devoutly."

"I discussed with Zeus and decided that everyone present would give her a gift."

"Even though my sister doesn't join us, why don't you give her a gift as a token of your affection."

Casting a grateful look at Hera, Hestia followed suit and said, "Yes."

The gods breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly agreed. They did not allow the goddess not to participate, but if they participated in a part, they could reluctantly accept it.

Seeing the unification of everyone's opinions, Zeus continued to host: "Then let's start! Athena."

Athena stepped forward obediently. She approached the statue of a woman in the center of the palace. The divine power intercepted by Prometheus appeared in her hands. She gently touched the statue, and the statue came to life.

It was a young and beautiful girl, she was still ignorant when she was newborn, she blinked her big bright eyes and looked at everyone.

So Athena gave her wisdom.

The girl who gained wisdom seemed to understand a lot of truths at once, and she said: "Who am I? Who are you?"

Zeus told her: "You are Pandora, a woman with all gifts, a human being."

"We are your creators, gods."

"I am... God King Zeus!"

Pandora continued to ask: "Why did you create me?"

"Because you want to bring disaster to mankind." Zeus answered her.

"Prometheus disobeyed me, and he thought his punishment was over."

"But it's far from the end."

An exquisite box appeared in Zeus's hand. He handed it to Pandora and ordered her: "Go to the world and open it."

"Famine, plague, drought, locust plague, flood, these disasters will spread among the world."

"Prometheus will see men on their knees begging me."

"This is the reason for your birth. You should fulfill your mission and bring disaster to mankind."

After finishing speaking, Zeus ignored Pandora. He looked at the gods and said, "This is my gift, and it is also the testimony of our covenant."

"It's your turn."

Poseidon, the god of the sea, found it interesting: "Not a bad gift."

"Then I will give her the ability to control the great water, so that she can set off a storm and submerge the mountains."

With the leader, the gods no longer wait and see, and send their own unique gifts one after another.

Pandora, a mortal girl, enjoys the honor that most gods cannot enjoy.

Athena personally dressed her and put on a snow-white robe for her. Hades, the lord of the underworld, gave her the power not to grow old, and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, gave her the ability to understand all languages ​​in the world. Goddess Themis sent blessings from justice and authority, Hera announced that she would have a happy marriage in the future, goddess of fertility Demeter brought her a garland of flowers, and Goddess of Beauty gave her unparalleled charm.

The goddess Hestia was the last to deliver the gift.

Among the gods, only she who was careful noticed Pandora's hesitation.

So she approached Pandora, gently grabbed the girl's cold hand, and warmed her with her own body temperature.

As if she had found someone worth talking to, Pandora immediately threw herself into Hestia's arms, sobbing, "I'm also a human being, if found out, I will die."

Hestia hugged her and patted her on the back lightly, like a mother whispering, she said, "No, you won't die, I will watch you from heaven and protect you."

"I will give you my hair band, which is the masterpiece of the master craftsman Hephaestus."

"Bring it on, only the honest and honest people can see you."

"You can do what you want to do as much as you want, and I will pick you up when you are tired."

"You, will be safe..."

(End of this chapter)