Editor’s note: Mrs. Corcoran’s fifth grade enrichment class at Tryon Elementary School recently completed a unit of study on Greek myths. Students created their own god or goddess and wrote a myth about their god. The following is an essay by Abigail Amato.

Celeste, the Goddess of Symbols
by Abigail Amato
Once upon a time on Olympus a god and a goddess fell in love. They were Saden, the god of Chronology, and Caleea, the goddess of Energy. Caleea was very beautiful and Saden was very handsome. The two married soon after they met. The other gods and goddesses talked about how wonderful the two were and how much they did for people. It was soon agreed that they must give the couple something in return. So they decided to ask them what they would like. When they asked them, all they said they wanted was for their child to be one of the great gods or goddesses. The others soon agreed this was a fine request. So it was determined that the child that Caleea bore would be a great god or goddess.
When Caleea gave birth to the child, they made sure that she had the greatest comforts in the world. When the child was born they realized that it was a very pretty girl. They named her Celeste, which means “heavenly,” for her beautiful appearance. The gods and goddesses agreed that it wouldn’t be hard to make Celeste a goddess. As Celeste grew, her parents realized that she didn’t ever say a word. They tried to keep it hidden, but it didn’t take long for the others to find out.
They said that if Celeste didn’t learn to talk, they wouldn’t let her be a goddess. After waiting a couple of years, it was confirmed that the child could not talk. The gods and goddesses decided they must send her away to the Island of Unwanted, the island where they sent gods or goddesses they couldn’t use. Saden and Caleea begged them to let Celeste stay, but they wouldn’t give in.
The next morning they dropped Celeste off on the island. All the others on the island stared at her in wonder. They asked her how she got there and why she was there. Of course, she didn’t answer. They soon realized that she couldn’t talk.
Though she couldn’t talk, the others on the island still honored her for her beauty and kind heart. Celeste saw many different people on the island. Some were ugly, others were too weak to use their powers, and some were blind or deaf. Some didn’t have enough sense to use their powers and didn’t know what to do. “But people are people and they deserve to be treated equally,” she thought.
One night Celeste heard growling and rustling leaves. When she looked out she saw many beasts sent by Romans (who wanted to take over Greece) to destroy Olympus. Celeste rushed out of bed and woke up all the others on the island. Although she tried, she could not make a sound to tell what she saw. In panic, she ripped off a piece of bark from a nearby tree and picked up a black stone. She then drew pictures and symbols of everything she saw. They finally understood what she was trying to say. Then they quickly picked the strongest and best runner to deliver the news to Olympus.
When the news was delivered the gods and goddesses prepared for the attack and when the beasts arrived, they combined all their powers and killed every last beast. As a reward for the warning, the gods allowed all unwanted gods and goddesses back on the island. Thanks to Celeste Olympus was no longer in danger.