Prayer to Pheme
Oh Lady Pheme, daughter of hope inspiring Elpis, golden winged messenger of Zeus, the inescapable goddess of gossip, rumors, fame, reputation, and reports, please hear this prayer!
Lady Pheme, in ancient times you were worshipped by the Athenians. You delivered to people of the past the news of grand victories or fatal losses in war. You, all knowing, all seeing, all hearing goddess have given us countless scandals and rumors that have devastated lives, but you have also immortalized the reputation and mere existence of mortals for reasons both celebrated and despised. People throughout history have sought your blessings and favor, fearful of being forgotten after they have passed. Lady Pheme, golden winged goddess with feathers containing sleepless eyes and restless tongues, your influence is inescapable. Your words are constantly carried from lip to lip, influencing everything we know, everything we do, and everything we believe about ourselves and others. There is no aspect of social life which cannot be influenced by you, and you do not care whether anything created by you is good or evil. Today, Lady Pheme, goddess who gains strength with distance and speed, goddess with countless eyes, tongues, and ears hidden beneath golden feathers, we can see you delighting in these modern times. We experience your work in the rise of a superstar, the endless cycle of a rise and fall from fame, the new big trends and topics we can't resist listening to and repeating like talking birds, the dramatic reveal of someone's true character, the fortunate whispers that lead some of us to great opportunities, the endless spread of misinformation, the cancelations of those who have done wrong, the false allegations against the innocent, and so much more.
Hail to you Lady Pheme, may you look kindly upon me, and your influence continue to echo throughout time!
