Long ago, there was a boy named Callias, who lived in the ever-bustling city of Rome. He lived with both his mother and father and loved using his hands to make things while he was growing up. Everyone knew he shared this hobby with his father, who owned a workshop and was a very respected artisan. Callias learned a lot from him, including sculpting and creating images with stone. But what Callias wanted was to create a piece inspired by the gods themselves, and could be a powerful piece that many could connect to.
The forum was always full of laughter and discourse by all of the members of Roman life. Merchants all over tried to sell their favorite items, scholars debated philosophical ideas, and soldiers talked about their past battles. Even though there was so much activity going on, an elderly philosopher named Remy was talking about his wisdom. Callias was very interested in this philosopher, as he seemed very smart, so he approached him.
Callias asked him, “Why are you talking about things that give you no money and waste your time when others are earning gold and silver?” Remy turned around and answered him with warmth in his eyes, wanting to teach the young boy about life.
“Because true wealth lies not within the precious metal from the Earth, but the enlightenment of our mind and heart. Why do you carve stones all day?” asked Remy.
Callias responded, “I wish to honor my city and the gods, and have my work teach others even when I am gone.”
Remy then had a wide grin on his face as he knew just what to tell the young boy to inspire him in his life. “Then don’t carve these stones from your hands, but from your heart. Make sure that every time you strike a stone, you do it with the idea of transferring your wisdom into the soul of the stone. This way, you can help enlighten future generations,” Remy exclaimed loudly.
Inspired by these words, Callias set to work on a statue unlike any he had ever tried to make before. He created a sculpture of Prometheus, the Titan who defied Zeus and gave fire and knowledge to mortal humans. Each detail made by Callias himself captured not just the struggle and suffering that Prometheus faced in his life but also his perseverance.
When the statue was unveiled in the capital, many hearts were struck as soon as they saw it. Scholars debated its meaning, and artisans found new inspiration in their respective crafts. Even the city’s leaders used this sculpture to try to preserve the balance between order and freedom in their societies! As Callias realized that his creation had become even more than a normal sculpture, he felt like he had followed through on Remy’s message to him.
When Remy approached Callias 10 years later at the site of his world-renowned statue of Prometheus, he asked him, “Did you follow your dreams, pass down your wisdom, and enlighten the world?”
Callias looked into Remy’s eyes and answered with a resounding “Yes!” that could be felt throughout the Roman empire.
With a proud look, Remy realized that Callias had carved a statue representing the gods whose knowledge could be passed on for generations.
“Ars longa, vita brevis,” Remy exclaimed to Callias in response.
This was one of the last pieces of wisdom that Remy could place on the not-so-young boy Callias, as it means, “Art is long, life is short.” A quote that reflects the lasting legacy that Callias’ art has left on both the people he has met and those who will learn about him in the distant future. This phrase represents his life so well that it was inscribed on his tombstone, so that his legacy would live on forever. As knowledge always serves as an inspiration to all!
The statue of Prometheus stood tall for many years, and its message remained. As people journeyed from far away to see the incredible sculpture, their interpretations of its significance evolved. While some saw Prometheus as the embodiment of sacrifice for the greater good, others saw him as a symbol of rebellion against forms of oppression. Now as an elder, Callias frequently hovered around the statue and quietly took part in these discussions. His work had gone beyond his initial intentions, always changing with every generation that got to see it.
While working on a smaller commission in his workshop one day, Callias was approached by a young apprentice. The boy was very curious to speak with him. "Master," he replied, "I wish to create something that speaks to everyone, as your Prometheus statue does, but I fear I lack the skill and wisdom to achieve such greatness." "Skill can be acquired, and wisdom develops over time, but the real spark is in your intention," Callias said with a soft smile. What makes you want to create? "To leave something behind that will endure," the boy said after he paused, and Callias nodded knowingly. "Then allow purpose and truth to direct each stroke. Make your carvings for life, not for fame, but for the lives you will end up touching.”
Callias felt a profound sense of calm as the boy went back to work with a fresh sense of purpose. He looked at the statue of Prometheus again and understood that its legacy will be an inspiration that lives on forever.
Eumaeus had seen beggars before. He knew them by the slant of their shoulders, the hollow hunger in their eyes. He knew them by the silence that clung to them, by the way the world had already forgotten their names.
Eumaeus learned the language of the hills, the way the earth cracked beneath the summer sun and turned to sucking mud when the rains came. He learned how to track wolves in the dark, how to silence his breath so that they did not scent his fear. He learned how to belong.
Jayan Shah,
Franklin High School,
New Jersey
The Artisan's
LEGACY
Winning 11th grade submission, 2024-2025 NJCL Creative Writing Contest
Summer 2025 · Torch: U.S. · CREATIVE WRITING
22