The Mute Swan and the Swan Song

 

  I love reading and listening to stories. It's part of why I love working at the library. Earl loves reading mythology, and he often shares the most amazing stories with me. Lately, he's been reading a lot of Greek Mythology. The other day, he told me the story of the mute swan, and I wanted to share it with all of you today.  

Many of you are undoubtedly familiar with Apollo, the son of Zeus, as the Sun God. Some of you may have even heard the stories about his golden chariot and how he is responsible for pulling the sun across the sky.  He had a son named Phaeton who was a chariot driver.  He was constantly asking Apollo to drive the Golden Chariot.  After winning an important race he decided to cash in a favor from his father to prove that he was the greatest chariot driver and capable of driving the Golden Chariot.  While Apollo didn't want to let him do it, he gave his son the reins.  Phaeton grabbed the reins and began his journey by driving it too close to the Earth, forming Africa.  He then drove it too high and froze the North and South Poles.  He was unable to gain control of the chariot, and Zeus made the decision to take him out of the sky with a lightning bolt.  This unfortunately killed Phaeton.  He had a close friend or lover, Cygnus of Leguria, who was devastated by the loss of Phaeton and was wailing, making a horrible noise.  Unable to listen to the noise any more, Apollo turned Cygnus into a swan.

There is a swan named for Cygnus called the Cygnus Swan, or mute swan. It is known for making no noise in its lifetime with the exception of just before its death. This became known as the swan song.  This is the myth that has been carried forward.  Upon looking into mute swans, they do make a series of noises in their life, mainly grunts and trumpeting noises. According to Wikipedia, they do not make a noise upon dying.  However, the Whooper Swan or Cygnus cygnus does let out a call upon its death as the air moves out of its lungs.  Peter Pallas believes that this swan may have contributed to the legend.  

I hope that you have an amazingly magickal day!

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Jasmeine Moonsong