GREEK GOD
HORSES AND OLIVES

On a steep rocky hill in Greece, the,

in ancient times there lived some very poor people who had not learned

building houses. They make their home in the small caves that they

dig in the ground or be hollowed out between rocks; and their food

is the flesh of wild animals, which they hunt in the forest, with the occasional few

berries or nuts. They don't even know how to make a bow and

arrows, but using catapults and sticks and sharp sticks to

weapons; and the small clothes they had were made of leather. They

stay at the top of the hill, for they are safe there from the beasts of

the forest is large around them, and it is also safe from the wild ones who

sometimes roam the ground.

One day, the men were hunting

in the forest, they find a strange young man whose face is very beautiful and

dressed so beautifully that they could hardly believe that she was

people like them. Her body was so slender and supple, and she moved

so nimble among the trees, that they imagined him to be

a snake disguised as a human; and they stood still within

astonishment and fear. The young man spoke to them, but they

not understanding a word he said; then he made

signs to them that he was hungry, and they fed him and

not afraid anymore. If only they were like the savages of the forest,

they might kill him right away. They want women and

their children saw the snake man, as they called him, and

heard him speak; so they took him home with them to

hilltop.

But the young man was so fair and gentle

so, after they all saw it, they started to think it would be very

it's unfortunate to hurt him. They gave him food and

treat him well; and he sings songs for them

and play with their kids, and make them happier than they are

days before. In a short time he learned to speak

their language; and he told them that his name was Cecrops, and he

it had been shipwrecked on the beach not far from there; and then he told

they were a lot of weird things about the land from where he came and where he didn't

will never be able to return. The poor listen and

wondering; and not long after that they began to love her and

they see him as a wiser man than themselves

by oneself. Then they came to ask him about everything

what to do, though,

So Cecrops-human snakes, so they're still

calling him-being the king of the poor on the hill. He teaches

they are how to make bows and arrows, and how to install nets for birds, and,

and how to take fish with hook. He led them against

the savages in the forest, and help them kill the wild beast

it's very scary for them. He showed them how

build a house out of wood and make hay with reeds that grow in

marshes. He taught them how to live in a family instead of

shepherding together like a senseless beast like the

they always did before. And he told them about

The great Jupiter and the Mighty People live amid the clouds at the summit

the mountain.

II. CHOOSING NAME.

Gradually, instead of wretched caves in between

batu, there is a small town on the top of the hill, with neat houses

and the market; and all around it was a strong wall with one narrow gate

exactly where the trail begins to decline to the plain. But until

the place has no name yet.

One morning when the king and his wise men

sitting together at the market and planning how to make the city

being a rich and powerful city, two strangers are seen on the street. No

some know how they got there. The guard at the gate is not

look at them; and no one dares to climb that path

narrow without his permission. But there are two strangers

stand up. One is a man, the other a man

women; and they were so high, and their faces were so great and glorious,

so that those who see them stand still and wonder and do not

say a word.

The man had a purple and green robe

wrapped around his body, and in one hand he carried a strong stick with

three sharp spear tips at one end. That woman didn't

beautiful, but she has beautiful gray eyes; and in one hand

he carried a spear and in the other hand a shield from the workmanship

freaky.

"What's the name of this town?" ask a man

that's.

People looked at him in wonder, and almost

don't understand the point. Then an old man answered and

he said, "It has no name. We lived on this hill first

called Cranae; but ever since King Cecrops came, we have been so busy that

we don't have time to think of names."

"Where is this King of Cecrops?" ask

that lady.

"He's in the market with people

wise," is the answer.

"Take us to him immediately" said the man

that's.

When Cecrops sees two strangers break into

the market, he stood and waited for them to speak. The man spoke more

past:

"I am Neptune" he said, "and

I rule the sea."

"And I am Athena" said the woman,

"and I give wisdom to men."

"I heard you were planning to make your city

Give my name to that place, and let me be a protector and

your protector, and the wealth of the whole world will be yours. Ships of every

the land will bring you merchandise and gold and silver; and you will

become the ruler of the sea."

"My uncle gave you a fair promise,"

said Athena; "But listen to me. Give my name to your town, and

let me be your protector, and I will give you what you cannot

bought gold: I will teach you how to do a thousand things that are not now

make your city my favorite home, and I will give you wisdom

that will affect everyone's mind and heart until the end of time."

The king bowed, and turned to the people,

all of which have filled the market. "Which of the people

this mighty one we shall choose to be the protector and protector of the city

we?" She asked. "Neptune offers us riches;

Athena promised us wisdom. Which one will we choose?"

"Neptune and riches!" cry

a lot of.

"Athena and

wisdom!" crying like many others.

Finally when it is clear that people are not

agreed, an old man whose advice was always heeded stood up and

say:

“These mighty men only give us

promise, and they've promised things we don't know. For whom

who knows what wealth is or what wisdom is? here, the

we can see and handle, we have to know better how

chose it."

"That's right! That's right!" exclaims

the people.

"Alright, then," said

those strangers, "we will each give you a gift, now

and here, then you can choose between us."

Neptune gives the first prize. Him

stand on the highest point of the hill where the rock is bare, and ask

people to see his power. He raised a tipped spear

the three of them were high up in the air, and then dropped them with force

large. Lightning struck, the earth shook, and the stone was split in half

base hill. Then from the gaping gap came the outer creature

regular, milky-white, with long slender legs, a curved neck, and a,

and mane and tail of silk.

People have never seen anything like it

it was before, and they thought it was a new breed of bear or

a wolf or boar that comes out of a rock to devour

them. Some of them ran and hid in their homes,

while others climbed the wall, and others held their weapons

alertly. But when they saw the creature standing with

calm on Neptune's side, they lose their fear and come closer to

he saw and admired her beauty.

"This is my gift,"

neptune said. "This animal will carry your burden for you; he will

pull your chariot; he will pull your chariot and plow; he will let you

sit on his back and will run with you faster than the wind."

"What's his name?" ask king.

"The name of the Horse" answered Neptune.

Then Athena stepped forward. He stood up for a moment

on a patch of green grassy land where city kids love to play at night

day. Then he pointed the tip of his spear deep inside

the ground. Instantly the air was filled with music, and from within the earth appeared

a tree with slender branches and dark green leaves and white flowers

and purple green fruit.

"This is my gift" said

Athenian. "This tree will give you food when you are hungry; it

it will protect you from the Sun when you faint; it will beautify

your city; and the oil of its fruit shall be sought by the whole world."

"What does that call?" ask king.

"That's Olive's name" replied Athena.

Then the king and his wise men began

talk about both gifts.

"I don't see that Horse will be much

useful to us" said the old man who had spoken

preceding. “Because, regarding cars, carts, and plows, we do not

have it, and indeed do not know what it is; and who among us would like to

sitting on the back of this creature and being carried faster than the wind? But

Olives will be something beautiful and fun for us and our children

we're forever."

"Which one will we

choose?" ask the king, look at the people.

"Athena has given us a gift

best of all," they exclaimed, "and we chose Athena and

wisdom!"

"Be so," said the king, "and

our city's name is Athena."

From that day on the city grew and spread, and

soon there was no place on the top of the hill for everyone. Then

houses were built on the plains around the foothills, and a large road was built

to the sea, three miles away; and all over the world there is no city more

justice of Athens.

In the old market above

the hill, the people built a temple to Athena, whose ruins are possible

still visible. The olive tree grows and is nourished; and, when you

visiting Athens, people will show you the place

stand up. Many other trees appeared from him, and in time became

a blessing both to Greece and to all the other countries around the great sea

that's. As for his horse, he wandered across the plains towards the north and

finally found a house in Thessaly far across the River

Peneus. And I have heard it said that all the horses in the world have been

down from the horse that Neptune brought from the rock; but the truth of this story

there may be some doubt.