A tale based on Greek Mythology

One day, a Greek philosopher was walking, thinking and wondering about the mysteries of life, when he saw two very tall women towering away in the distance. The philosopher hid behind a chestnut tree (see the note at the end of the story), intending to listen to their conversation. The giant women came and sat nearby, but the King’s son appeared before they could speak to one another. The young prince was bleeding from one ear and shouted pleadingly towards the women,

“Justice! I want justice! A villain cut my ear!”

He pointed to another boy, his younger brother, who arrived wielding a bloody sword.

The two women replied to the young prince and replied, “We will be pleased to give you justice, young prince.”

“We are goddesses of justice. Just choose which of the two of us you would prefer to help you.”

“What’s the difference between you?” asked the prince.

“What would each of you do?”

“I,” answered one of the goddesses, who looked fragile and delicate,

“will ask your brother what was the cause of his action, and I will listen to his explanation. Then I will require him to protect your other ear with his life, and to make you the most beautiful helmet to cover your scar and to be your ears when you need it.”

The second goddess, who was strong and resolute, responded, ” I, for my part, will not let him go unpunished for his action. I will punish him with a hundred lashes and one year of imprisonment, and he must compensate you for your pain with a thousand gold coins. And I will give you the sword, and you can choose if you’re able to keep the ear or, on the contrary, you want both ears to end up on the ground. Well, what is your decision? Who do you want to apply justice to for the offence?”

The prince looked at the two goddesses. Then he put his hand to the wound, and on touching it, his face gave a gesture of undeniable pain, which ended with a look of anger and affection for his brother. And in a firm voice, addressing the second of the goddesses, he answered.

“I’d rather it was you who helped me. I love him, but it would be unfair if my brother wasn’t punished.”

So, from his hiding place behind the chestnut tree, the philosopher saw the accused receive his punishment and watched how the older brother was content to make a small wound on his brother’s ear without seriously damaging it.

A while passed, and the princes had left, one without an ear and the other served justice, and the philosopher was still in hiding when the least expected thing happened. In front of his eyes, the second of the goddesses changed her clothes and took her true form. She wasn’t a goddess, but the powerful Aries, the god of war. Aries bid goodbye to his companion with a mischievous smile:

“I’ve done it again, dear Themis. Your friends, mankind, can barely distinguish between your righteousness and my revenge. I will prepare my weapons, a new war between brothers is approaching, and I will revel in the battles to come.” Said Aries as he left.

When Aries had left and the philosopher was trying to make off quietly, the goddess spoke aloud, “Tell me, good philosopher, would you have known how to choose correctly? Did you know how to distinguish between the past and the future?”

With that strange greeting began many long and friendly talks. That’s how, from the very hand of Themis, the goddess of justice, the philosopher learned that true justice lies in improving the future, moving it away from past wrongs. False justice and vengeance are incapable of forgiving and forgetting past wrongs, and doing so fixes the future, always ending up being just as bad.

The Chestnut tree (Castanea sativa) represents a personal intercession for justice, a desire for the common good for others and oneself. The tree itself is a reminder “to do justice,” and the flowers indicate seeking it.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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