Grains of Chaos

Cassandra is one of the most intriguing and complex characters of Greek mythology. Daughter to King Priam and Queen Hecuba. She was a princess of Troy, priestess of Apollo, and physically beautiful – the most dangerous characteristic for a woman in ancient Greece.

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Her story starts with Apollo – God of the sun, prophesy, music and pursuer of unwilling women. Apollo had a crush on Cassandra. In order to win over her affections, he imparts upon her the gift of prophecy. Slight overkill, but I digress. Cassandra thought, for a sun God, Apollo wasn’t too bright, and rejected his advances. Outraged by this perceived slight and unable to revoke a divine gift, Apollo spits in Cassandra’s mouth, cursing her to never be believed.

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Amongst Cassandra’s famous prophecies were the prophecy that if Paris travels to Sparta, he would kidnap Helen, and if the Trojan horse enters Troy, the city would burn. Her only prophecy to be believed was the prophecy that Paris was her brother. The convenient truth was the only prophecy heard amongst the pile of inconvenient.

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Cassandra’s story finally ends after the fall of Troy. She is taken by King Agamemnon as a concubine (fancy term for sex slave) back to his lands in Mycenae. Once off the boat Cassandra sets foot in front of the griffin adorned archway that is the entrance to the city. Cassandra’s dissociated stare fixed upon three dancing Erinyes (Furies), weaving their way between blood-stained footprints towards the palace. She knew she was the only one who could see the events that were destined, and she knew no one would listen. Yet, she placed one foot in front of the other, resigned to her fate, knowing the Keres (death) awaited her.

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Cassandra’s story has been used as a metaphor in fields such as psychology, sociology, and business. Most recently the ‘Cassandra Complex’ has been related to the widespread disbelief in scientific information – from climate change deniers to anti-vaxers. 

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For my interpretation of the Cassandra Complex in relation to ecosystem feedback, or for my short passage titled 'The Trojan Horse' please view my interpretations page.

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Cassandra was carved unplugged (no power tools) from huon pine.