Reflecting modern issues with the Greek mythology and the antique people of Greece has always been an interest of mine. Reflecting the people of the Bible with my life got a bit boring and the metaphors seem to be too generic or too gentle. The Greek characters deal with pain, loss and regret. The stories are usually melancholy somehow and it seems like the characters never get what they want, or they get what they want but have to pay a huge price for it.
The politicians of today want media attention. Hell, everyone who's interested in money or power wants media attention. They crave for their face on the front page of any magazine and no matter what the article is about, they want to be in the words that reside in the text. They want to be mentioned, acknowledged. Popularity rules the world. The more popular you are, the more power you're bound to get. And some people resort to extreme methods of gaining popularity, and sometimes, just sometimes, this makes me sick enough to throw up their media hunger out of my throat.
Herostratus set the temple of Artemis, an ancient seventh wonder of the world, into flames in the old times. His action of arson was later condemned to execution, naturally. The dilemma here was that he wanted to be caught red-handed. He wanted people to know that it was him who set the temple on fire. He wanted to get credit for the outrageous stunt he had successfully pulled off, even though it would get him to lose his head. Popularity, acknowledgement, for the sake of your own life? King Croesus was wise enough to try and prevent Herostratus' name from being spread around, just so that he wouldn't get the satisfaction of be a known person - a person who'd matter. Croesus forbid the past generations of ever saying aloud the name of the arsonist with the punishment of death penalty. I suppose his plan - even though it sounded effective - didn't work out that well because I'm now writing about Herostratus and giving his name even more recognition.
How lonely must Herostratus have felt before committing such an act?
Models without voices becoming singers, singers without brains becoming entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs with looks becoming media whores. It's all about attention. It's all about setting the media on flames and feisting in the feeling of self-credit. I have made myself important. Kill me now. I despise people who are willing to do everything that's possible to them to get known by others. Why sacrifice your identity, self-image and your face just to see people bash you publicly? Who can take such a punishment for the mind: the constant negative criticism you get. I'd refuse the offer of herostratic fame any time given.
.lonesome.
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