#bornonolympus

Stevie Crooks.

BORN ON OLYMPUS  Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, who was driven to far journeys…He saw the city and learned the minds of many distant men and weathered many bitter nights and days in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home…But not by will nor valor could he save them, for their own recklessness destroyed them all…and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood in division of conflict…the lord of men and brilliant.- Homer The Iliad and The Odyssey There was a time long ago when the mythical gods of Mt. Olympus marveled at their creation-believing that mankind no longer needed their guidance. Even the gods are not exempt from vanity. Although mankind thrived without the guidance of the gods but also developed a thirst for war, lust, pride and destruction building The City Of Vices. New gods were born on Olympus but the old gods still drunk with arrogance ignored their divine children and neglected to share with them the secret of immortality...consuming a single drop of the blood of a Titan. Legend tells that one of the more curious of the divine children stood on the edge of a cliff high a top Mt. Olympus watching the mortals of The City Of Vices. Wanting a closer look he leaned forward and lost his footing falling to the earth. Not fully developed as an immortal being-the boy fell to the earth as a demigod. In a lush garden just outside The CIty Of Vices a widow praying to the gods for mercy witnesses the boy's descent from the heavens like a comet. Unable to control his strength-the boy hides under a Fennel tree. The widow finds the boy and her faith in the gods is restored. The widow teaches the boy how to harness his power through the philosophy of gardening and raises him as a mortal. Every night The City Of Vices lights up and from the garden it appears glorious in the boy's eyes. The widow warns him that the lights of the city can be blinding even to a demigod. The boy-now a man-travels to The City Of Vices where everything he imagined about the city is a reality. He steps foot in what seems to be a paradise-women, food, wealth, sport and immaculate architecture. However the excitement of being in the city wears off when he realizes that the locals aren't as enamored by the city as he is. Evil men rule the city-providing just enough to the common people to give them hope but crushing their dreams by hoarding the wealth and riches of the land. The man uses his power to champion the cause of the common people and becomes The Hero but alas even the gods are not exempt from pride. As tales of his valor grow so does he appetite for accolades. He wants the best the city has to offer and vows to conquer the city's most feared ruler-Medusa The Queen of Vanity. He engages the queen not in battle but in a dance for life and death. He wins her heart but is denied her gaze which would undoubtedly turn him to stone. His deeds draw the attention of the gods and the jealously of Zeus, who unleashes his 9 muses upon him. The hero's eyes are open to a dramatic truth and nothing in the city can match the vision that the muses have seduced him with. Angered by the realization that the city cannot satisfy his ambition he releases the full wrath of his power upon the corrupt rulers of the city. In his rage he destroys most of the city. He is mortally wounded by a common man and remembers that even with his great power he is still mortal. He breaks away fro the hold of the muses and wanders towards the docks of the city, where he finds an unmanned ship and lets the wind take him out to sea. The voice of the god Poseidon tells him to seek the island of Pandora where he will find the the means to make him immortal. The act angers He braves the harsh seas and the very wrath of the Zeus. At what seems to be his end, the god Poseidon appears to him as a mighty sea serpent which takes him the shores of Pandora. Waking up on the shores of Pandora, exhausted, thirsty, hungry and weak; The Hero cannot determine whether he has truly broken away from the curse of the muses. He wanders into a lush jungle where he regains his strength by eating herbs and drinking water from an eternal spring. He also finds the means to attaining him immortally in the form of horseless chariot of fire powered by his very desire. However, the island is inhabited by beautiful women who begin to tend to his every need. He finds himself wanting to remain on the island. He discovers the true intentions of the island's women when he finds a pile of armor and weapons. The women have been inciting mortal men to island for centuries and feasting on them. He regains his true desire, to become an immortal god; and escapes the island on the chariot. The chariot brings him to a foreign land where he is welcomed by their Immortal King and his daughter. The King has been waiting for centuries for a man worthy enough to ride the chariot. The Hero is welcomed as a lost son and given all the luxuries of royalty including the hand of the king's daughter. He learns that she is his perfect match, born in fire and raised in the calm of a storm. United with a true love there is only one task left for our hero, he must consume the blood of a titan. But the titans have been long from this world for eons. The Immortal King gives our hero three tasks to determine whether he his truly destined to be a god. The first task tests his humility and our hero serves the common people of the city food from his surplus. The second task measures his faith when the Immortal King challenges him to a contest of will. After three years of fasting and meditation the hero emerges victorious. The third and final task determines his love. The Immortal King threatens to end his very daughters life but our hero asks that her life be spared for his own. The Immortal King is pleased and our hero is given the blood of a Titan. Our hero is now a god, ready to return to Olympus. But first he and his bride will travel the world, surely there is more to the world than he ever imagined. They travel the world finding many new lands and learning exciting new things. He becomes more than The Hero, he becomes an icon. His exploits and adventures begin become the stuff of myths and legends. He returns to The City Of Vices with his bride and finishes what he started in his youth by bringing divine justice to the land by eliminating the wicked rulers. He returns to the garden and blesses his mortal mother with riches, servants and wealth. The land is restored and now with nothing left to accomplish in the mortal world he sets his sights on Olympus and vows to restore it to it's former glory. He rides his chariot into the sky arrives on Mt Olympus and challenges the gods to remember what they mean to mankind. Offended by what he deems as disrespect Zeus threatens to end our hero's life. Rather than shed blood as The Hero offers the gods music, food, wine and a …the story of a boy that was BORN ON OLYMPUS.

| Finalizing #BornOnOlympus my brother Stevie #Floating |

Artwork from Stevie Crooks upcoming project "Born On Olympus"