A Myth of Astronomical Proportions

            An Original Work written by Imzadi’s C.  (imzadi1701@aol.com)

Artanis was a mortal with a talent for art.  Since he was a child, Artanis had drawn pictures in the dirt with sticks.  Now that he was older, he made  art  a full time profession as a sculptor, weaver, and engraver.  Artanis had one fatal flaw; he did not have faith in the muses and other immortal gods.  He believed that talent was derived from within, not divine intervention.  One day, Artanis decided to take a walk in the woods to be one with nature.  While walking, Artanis heard a rustling in a bush up the trail.   Curious, Artanis decided to take a peek.  What he saw amazed him!  There before his eyes was Smok, the god of intelligence and wisdom, having his way with a beautiful milk maid.  This further degraded Artanis? view of the gods.

This was too important to keep in his thoughts alone, the public had to know!  So, in his arrogance, Artanis had a tapestry of Smok violating a young maiden and the other immortal gods watching from Mt. Olympus.  When the gods learned of this, they were furious.  Smok, in particular, was especially enraged.  Back on earth, Artanis was making vast amounts of profit from his works, for he was the artist who defied the gods and lived for so long.  However, that would all change.  Instead of simply killing Artanis with his Vulcan Death Grip, Smok decided to give Artanis a challenge.  If Artanis completed the task successfully, he would live, if he failed, he would spend eternity in agony.  Smok left Mt. Olympus and approached Artanis.

“Artanis, I am the Smok, the god of Intelligence and Wisdom.  Since you have dishonored my name, I will give you a task for you to complete.  If you succeed, you will live, if you fail, you will be severely punished!”  Smok stated.

“I will accept your challenge Smok!  For I am Artanis, the finest artist in the land and the most devious mortal who ever lived!”  Artanis boasted.

“I command you to count all the stars in the sky.  Tomorrow you will present me with an exact figure.  One too many, you will fail, one too few,

and you will fail.  Any questions?!”  Smok commanded.

            “I accept your challenge Smok.  Tomorrow morning I will have counted all the stars for you and I will live to be a rich and happy man!”  Artanis

stated. 

Upon this, Smok left Artanis’ workshop to head back to Mt. Olympus to watch the night’s escapades.  

That evening, Artanis pulled out a cloth, some wine, and a few pieces of bread to go out and count the stars.  The evening began as planned and Artanis diligently counted every star.  However, he noticed that the stars were moving and he had a difficult time recognizing which stars he had

counted and which he had not.  Soon, the effects of the wine overtook him and Artanis became disoriented and he soon passed out. 

Smok looked down from Mt. Olympus and laughed with all the emotion he could muster.  Smok knew that the axial spin of the earth caused the stars to move in the night sky, and Smok knew that this would disorientate Artanis. 

In the morning, Artanis was laying where he passed out the night before.  Smok descended to him in all his glory and he said, “ARTANIS!  Wake up!  You must have had a long night!  How many stars were out last night?????”

    Artanis, confused and startled said, “I am not sure, I could not count all the stars, they moved to fast  *BURP*!!”

“Well, it seems that you had your last meal on this earth.  Your punishment is as follows.  Since you have spoken ill of me, I command that

you be banished from this earth onto the moon.  There you will watch over the earth at night.  During this time, you will spin and continue to count the

stars until you can give me an exact number.  Then the curse will be lifted!”  Smok commanded.

“Wait Smok!” A voice demanded.  The Nine Muses approached their position.  “Since this pathetic excuse for an artist has dishonored us, we demand retribution of our own!”  the muses stated.

“Do with him what you will, but do not interfere with my curse!”  Smok said.

“Artanis, for your self-destructive actions, each fall, you will return to earth during the day and paint all the leaves on the trees different colors!”  the muses said. 

This is the reason for phases of the moon and the “man in the moon”.  When the moon is in its new phase, Artanis is looking out the heavens.  When the moon is in its full phase, Artanis is looking down at the earth.  This also tells us why the leaves change colors in the fall.   Good old Artanis is painting them for us!  Also, we learn never to tell the world about the gods’ actions, for they will bring eternal damnation upon you!