Does the myth of Phaethon reflect an impact? : Revising the fall of Phaethon and considering a possible relation to the Chiemgau Impact
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.6, No.3, 2006, pages 101-109
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Pages:
101-109
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Articles
Abstract:
In Greek mythology there exists one story that has repeatedly been interpreted to describe the fallof a celestial body: the story ofPhaethon, who undertakes a disastrous drive with the sun-chariot ofhis father Helios. First, the article presents the arguments given by ancient authors for interpretingthis story as the reflection of a natural phenomenon. Then details given in the old descriptions ofPhaethon's fall are compared with nowadays knowledge of impact phenomena. Furthermore the textsare examined for clues to the time and the location of the hypothesised impact. These considerationssubstantiate the suggestion that the myth ofPhaethon reflects a concrete strike of a meteorite, the socalledChiemgau Impact. That impact struck the south-east of Bavaria/Germany at some time duringthe Celtic period and left an extended crater-strewnfield of about 100 craters. A conspicuous intersectionbetween the tradition of the Phaethon-story and the up to now known time-frame for the ChiemgauImpact gives new clues for dating the Chiemgau Impact to the time between 600 and 428 BC
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Keywords:
Phaethon, Chiemgau Impact, Myth, Meteorite, Celts
