The myth of Midas, the king who turned everything he touched to gold, is a captivating tale of hubris and its consequences. However, the question of why Hermes, the messenger god in Greek mythology, allegedly possessed the power to transmute objects into gold, is far less explored, and necessitates a departure from traditional mythological interpretations towards a speculative, scientifically-informed lens. The assertion that Hermes, like Midas, could transform objects into gold through a modified immune system – a process involving specialized cells that attack and remineralize objects with gold – requires us to explore the biological plausibility of such a power and its potential implications. This article will delve into this intriguing hypothetical scenario, contrasting it with the familiar Midas legend to illuminate the potential mechanisms behind this fantastical ability.
The Midas Myth: A Comparative Framework
Before examining the hypothetical mechanism behind Hermes's gold-making ability, let's briefly review the established narrative of King Midas. The common thread in most versions of the Midas myth centers on a boon granted by Dionysus (or Bacchus, in Roman mythology). Midas, often depicted as greedy and avaricious, requested the "golden touch" – the ability to turn anything he touched into gold. Initially, this seemed a magnificent gift, transforming his food and drink into precious metal, rendering him unable to sustain himself. His plea to Dionysus to revoke the curse highlights the inherent danger of unchecked power and the limitations of material wealth.
The question "Why did Midas make himself gold?" or "Why did King Midas turn gold?" is answered not by a deliberate choice on Midas's part, but by a consequence of his ill-considered wish. His transformation wasn't a self-inflicted act; it was the outcome of a magical boon that spiraled out of control. He didn't *choose* to turn himself to gold; the curse affected everything he touched, including himself. This highlights a crucial difference between the Midas myth and the hypothetical scenario of Hermes's gold-making ability. Midas's power was passive and uncontrolled; it was a curse rather than a deliberate, controlled ability.
Hermes: The Hypothetical Goldsmith
In contrast to Midas's accidental and ultimately disastrous golden touch, let's consider the possibility of Hermes possessing a controlled and deliberate ability to transmute objects into gold using a biologically-based mechanism. The proposition that modified immune system cells are responsible requires a deep dive into immunology and the concept of "self" versus "non-self."
The immune system's primary function is to defend the body against foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It does this by identifying "non-self" entities and launching an attack to neutralize them. This identification is crucial; the immune system must distinguish between the body's own cells ("self") and foreign invaders ("non-self") to avoid attacking its own tissues (autoimmunity).
The hypothesis suggests that Hermes's ability stems from a modification of this fundamental process. His immune system, or a specialized subset of his immune cells, could be uniquely capable of identifying and targeting specific materials, classifying them as "non-self" even if they are otherwise inert. These cells would then initiate a process of "remineralization," replacing the atomic structure of the targeted object with gold.
This process would require a sophisticated biochemical mechanism. The immune cells would need to:
current url：https://rhixnu.d938y.com/all/why-did-hermes-turn-objects-into-gold-68288