Photo credit: Francisco Gonzalez (cropped)
Back when Haranna was poor, an earthquake exposed a magnificent gold vein there. Karna Galk hosted a feast. Everyone cheered, praising Akjat, God of Fortune. Akjat smiled.
Galk rebuilt the castle, draped himself in gold-cloth, counted his coins.
The priests of Haranna’s mountain goddess warned him: “Remember your duty, or be lost.”
Galk lied: “I will.” A tiny part of his heart turned to stone.
Akjat whispered in Galk’s ear: “Take more.” Galk nodded eagerly. He pushed the gold miners, careless of casualties. He took more of the crops, and kept the profits, while his karn went hungry. He sold criminals as slaves, and then dissenters, too.
Each time, the stone in his heart spread.
When the gold mine faltered, Akjat whispered: “Dig into the sacred mountain. What has that puny goddess given you that I have not?”
Galk couldn’t resist. He reached out in supplication. But the thought alone turned the last of his heart to stone, and his body followed.
The statue of Galk remains in Haranna, to remind them that the god of fortune is also the god of greed. They honor their mountain goddess and share their wealth. And when Akjat whispers, they do not listen.
Word count: 200. Written for this week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge. Big thanks as always to Alistair Forbes for hosting, and to Sally-Ann Hodgekiss for providing the original prompt photo, below:
Photo © Sally-Ann Hodgekiss
Tales from Eneana 
Nice atmospheric story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed it – thanks for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, I like this. I have always loved mythology, from anywhere and any religion. This reads exactly like something I might find in a sacred text. I loved the feel of this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Eric, I’m so glad it hit you that way. I was thinking of it like a local legend, a cautionary tale they tell — while pointing to the statue in the square — to explain something important about their values. I really like taking an image like a statue or painting and making up an entirely different legend to fit it as well as I can (did you notice that he’s sitting on a pile of gold coins?). For this one, I had to cut a line for the sake of word count that I think you might like: “And his extravagant clothing and jewelry fell from him as he turned to stone, leaving him naked except for his greed.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! I do like that line. That’s beautiful prose. I think you could’ve been forgiven for leaving it in.
And you’re absolutely right about mythology. It teaches the values of the culture. You know how it works and I think that’s why your mythology feels so authentic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly what I’m trying for, so that’s the perfect compliment, thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A classic myth, nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Iain, it’s so nice to hear it came across that way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt that I was read fact. Perfect,
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad it came across as that real – thanks so much for commenting, Michael!
LikeLike
Sorry [read should be] reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love where you took this, Joy – fits so well with the image. Those age old tales of greed and dishonouring the gods. Has a lovely mythic feel to it. Wonderful stuff
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really do love the challenge of making up a new legend or saying to go with a statue or other type of image like this, it’s fun. I’m so glad it came across with the mythic feel I was hoping for, too. Thanks for commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really did come across like that, like something you discovered rather than wrote 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, I like that — I’ll take it, thank you!!
LikeLike
A great story, with a real message. You’ve used the prompt of the stone statue really well to convey the idea of Galk’s heart gradually hardening and turning to stone as his greed increased. As others have said, the story reads like a myth, together with the gods, good and bad. Beautifully written. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for such a sweet comment, Millie, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I end up writing a lot of character-driven stories, which I like, but I keep getting drawn back to these myths and legends — the stories that the various people of Eneana tell that illustrate who they are and what they believe. And then, of course, I always wonder how much of a grain of truth the story has, and how different the true story it was originally based on might have been… and next thing you know, I have another character-driven story.
LikeLike
People tend to forget that gods are mischevious and are quick to sell out the people who adore them just to get their soul. Good story Joy, I like it .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alistair! You’re right — although some of the gods are more trouble than others. Akjat goes by many names, but in all of them, he’s a god of wealth and power and worldly success – and that’s a double-edged sword.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good mythological story, Joy. It’s a dire warning not to be greedy. More people need to learn that these days. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree; it’s a lesson more people should take to heart. Thanks for your comment, Suzanne!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed this story, Joy. It’s so beautifully written. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sammi, I’m glad you think so! I tend to think of rich description as being beautiful, and my ideas are usually so plot-driven; it’s nice to think that that can seem beautifully written too.
LikeLiked by 1 person