Phaeton

Joseph Anthony Mugnaini

A lithograph done by Joseph Mugnaini in 1953, working with the California Master Printer, lithographer Lynton Kistler. From a series of mythological themes done in editions of 20. This impression is accompanied by an 'authentication' from Kistler and signed by Mugnaini.

Mugnaini began his long-time collaboration with author Ray Bradbury in 1952, during which time he interpreted and illustrated many of Bradbury's books, including "Fahrenheit 451" through the "Martian Chronicles".

This image depicts the myth of Phaethon and the Sun Chariot. Everyday God Helios drove the horse chariot carrying the sun along the sky. His son, Phaethon, was born to a mortal woman, Clymene, with whom he lived. Helios lived in a palace in India from where he would begin his eastern assent in his chariot. Phaethon traveled to see his father demanding proof of his legitimacy and tricked Helios into allowing him to drive the sun chariot. This was a mighty task even too great for the mighty Zeus and Phaethon could not control the fiery horses. The Sun Chariot blazed a gash in the skies which supposedly became the Milky Way. It then crashed to earth causing immense destruction including burning the continent of Africa and turning the skin of the Ethiopian people black. Zeus was so infuriated that he struck Phaeton with a thunderbolt.