ILOs:
- To learn more about Greek and Roman mythology
- To gain understanding where some myths originated
- To acquire knowledge of how Greek and Roman writers differs in their styles
Introduction
Greek and Roman myths have a lot of stories concerning other deities, demigods and even human some of them had a happy ending while some ended tragically. Its funny how some of the stories reminds me of novels and fairy tales written centuries after, which made me wonder if these Greek and Roman tales inspired those authors. Here are some tales of lovers, how they fought for their love and accepted their fate.
PYRAMUS AND THISBE
The story of Pyramus and Thisbe reminds me so much of Romeo and Juliet, however, I think I prefer the piece made by Ovid than that of Shakespeare. The tale of Pyramus and Thisbe was found only in Ovid, it tells about how the once white mulberry turned into red.
Characters
Pyramus – a young beautiful man
Thisbe – the lovely maiden
Synopsis
In Babylon, there once lived a young beautiful man named Pyramus and a lovely maiden named Thisbe, they live close to each other in fact a wall was the only thing that divided their houses. As neighbors, they grew-up together, played together until they fell in love together. However, like Romeo and Juliet their parents are against there union, however, unbeknownst to their parents the lovers talk to each other using a whole from the wall that the two household shared.
One day, they agreed to see each other under a snow white mulberry tree on the outskirts of town. Thisbe got there first, but suddenly she saw a lion so she ran away, however, the lion was able to get the coat she wore that fell on the ground then tore it to pieces. Pyramus saw the coat with blood that the lion tore, so he thought that Thisbe is dead then he killed himself under the mulberry tree. Thisbe then went back to the tree to wait for Pyramus but what she saw was Pyramus covered in blood. Like Pyramus she taught that she was the reason her lover died, so she killed herself. The gods then out of pity and as symbol of the love of the two mortals turned the white mulberry to red.
ORPHEUS AND EURIDICE
The first time I learned of this myth was when I was in high school, from then on I never forgot about it. Both Roman writers, Virgil and Ovid continued the story of Orpheus after his journey with the Argonauts written by Apollonius.
Characters
Orpheus – a demigod who has a gift in music and plays a lyre, he is he son of Calliope, a muse, and Oeagrus, the king of Thrace
Eurydice – wife of Orpheus
Synopsis
Being a demigod and part of the Argonauts who sailed to find the golden fleece, Orpheus is popular for his gift in music, he is the son of a muse named Calliope and a Thracian king, Oeagrus. It was not said how Orpheus and Eurydice’s love started the story started the night after their wedding, Eurydice was walking in the meadow when she was beaten by a viper then died. Her husband, Orpheus who was devastated of her death seek Eurydice in the underworld, Hades, the king of the dead pitied Orpheus and called the soul of Eurydice. Hades allowed Orpheus to bring Eurydice but Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice until they both set into the mortal world.
As the couple ascend back to the mortal world Orpheus being the first one to set foot outside the cave looked back immediately to his wife who at that time is still in the shadows of the cave so when he was about to reach her hand Eurydice vanish into air the last thing he heard was ‘Farewell.’ He tried to go after her and go back to the underworld, however a living mortal may not enter the world of the dead twice. He lived a lifeless life until he was slain by a band of Maenads, his body was chopped to pieces and was thrown to the river Hebrus. The muses found his head and buried to the island while his limbs was put in a tomb at the foot of Mt. Olympus.
CEYX AND ALCYONE
This story was taken from Ovid, it talks about the myth of the Halcyon days, the gods and goddesses names are in Latin. I must say Ovid has his own way of breaking his readers’ hearts, I hope you won’t be one of them.
Characters
Ceyx – King of Thessaky and son of Lucifer, the light bearer
Alcyone – daughter of Aeolus, king of the winds
Synopsis
Ceyx the son of Lucifer – the light bearer – and king of Thessaly loves her wife Alcyone, the daughter of Aeolus, king of the winds. The two can’t hardly be separated until Ceyx planned to voyage the sea so when Alcyone, his wife heard of it she immediately dissuade him for she knows the danger of the winds in the sea. But Ceyx stood by his decision, as he and his men cross the sea there came a storm that wrecked the ship and drowned all the men on it including Ceyx, before he died Ceyx last word was the name of his wife.
Alcyone waited for his husband for days she prayed to the gods but mostly to Juno for her husband’s safety. Out of pity the goddess sent Iris, the messenger of the gods to the house of Somnus, the god of Sleep, to tell Alcyone that Ceyx is dead. Somnus then sent his son Morpheus, the god of Dreams, who took the form of the dead Ceyx and told Alcyone what happened to the former king. When morning came Alcyone rush to the shore where she watched her husband sail, there she saw his body slowly drifting towards her, Alcyone then rushed to the dead body but instead of sinking from the waves, Alcyone grew wings and turned into a bird.
The gods sympathize with the couple and turned Ceyx to a bird as well. Every year, for seven days the sea is calm without strong winds, these days are called Halcyon Days.
PYGMALION AND GALATEA
After I read this story, I was immediately reminded of Pinocchio but with a touch of romance (you’ll know why).The story of Pygmalion and Galatea was written only by the Roman writer, Ovid.
Characters
Pygmalion – a young sculptor
Galatea – wife of Pygmalion; she was once a statue
Synopsis
In Cyprus there once lived a gifted sculptor named Pygmalion. He promised himself never to marry, he was a woman-hater after all, and said his art would be enough for him. Ironically though the sculpture that he put so much effort on is that of a woman, day after day and night after night he worked to make it more beautiful until such day that he fell in love to it.
Every woman would pale in comparison to it. Pygmalion was so in love to it that for a while he would kiss, embrace, caress its hands and face, dress it with clothes, bring it gifts, buy it flowers, and even tuck it to bed like a child playing house with its dolls. These things he did, until his story reached Venus, the goddess of love. And on the feast day of Venus which was always celebrated by the people of Cyprus, Pygmalion prayed to the goddess for him to find a woman like his statue but the goddess knows that it was not his heart’s desire nevertheless to show him that she heard his prayer the fire in the alter blazed up three times.
Thinking it was a good omen, Pygmalion immediately went home and there he found his beloved statue entrancingly beautiful. He caressed it and was surprised that the once cold stone now felt warm at his touch. So he kissed her, touched her hands and felt her pulse. The statue he made and loved is now a real woman, he immediately thought that it was because of Venus and an indescribable gratitude to the goddess he felt. The statue-turned-human was named Galatea and married Pygmalion. It was even said that the goddess of love graced them with her presence during their wedding. Pygmalion and Galatea had a son named Paphos which is now a name of a city in Cyprus.
BAUCIS AND PHILEMON
This story reminds me of memes defining forever and I guess this one is pretty accurate. The story was written by Ovid, and the name of gods are in Latin.
Characters
Baucis – the wife of Philemon, who helped Jupiter and Mercury
Philemon – the husband of Baucis, who helped Jupiter and Mercury
Jupiter – the king of the gods and god of thunder and sky
Mercury – the god of messenger commerce, travelers, thieves and tricksters
Synopsis
Once in the country of Phrygia there were two trees that awed the people who saw it for one of it was an oak and the other a linden however, both share the same trunk. The story how it sprung involves Jupiter, the king of the gods. It was said whenever Jupiter is bored in Olympus he would come down to the mortal world in disguise to look for adventure, for these trips his favorite companion was Mercury the most entertaining, clever and resourceful god. Once, the two gods ventured in Phrygia to test how hospitable the people of the country are, they were disguised as poor wayfarers. When they reached the place they went from house to house unfortunately, no one accepted them in until they reached a very small hut where a poor, old couple lived.
The gods entered the humble and clean home of the Baucis, the wife and her husband Philemon. The couple served the gods a bowl of food and a wine, each. Baucis and Philemon were very happy to serve their guests and to refill their food and drinks, which is why did not immediately notice that the food and the wine never cease to empty. In terror the husband and wife prayed silently and said they have a goose that they will offer to the gods. Baucis and Philemon ran around to catch the goose then when they are finally tired took a rest.
The gods felt that it was time for them to intervene. The gods rewarded the couple and said “The wicked country which despises the poor stranger will be punished, but not you.” Jupiter and Mercury escorted Baucis and Philemon out of the hut, from there the couple saw a vast of water where the country side once were, and though their neighbors were not good to them still they cried for them. To their amazement their hut turned into a temple with a golden roof. Then Jupiter said to them, “Ask whatever you want and you shall have your wish.” After a couple whispering between the couple, Philemon asked for them to be the priests who will guard the temple and for them to never part and die together. Jupiter granted their wish , for years the couple grew older but they still guarded and lived in temple.
One day, Baucis and Philemon sat and looked back to the years that had passed when suddenly a bark started to grew on them by the time they had realized what was happening the only thing they could utter was “Farewell, my dear companion.” Baucis and Philemon turned into an oak and a linden that share the same trunk. And ’till death, they never part.
ENDYMION
Theocritus a third century, Greek poet told the story of Endymion. This story is very short but still left with a question: Why did she did what she did?
Characters
Endymion – a young, beautiful shepherd
Selene – the goddess of the moon
Synopsis
No one was really sure what Endymion does for a living, whether his a king, a hunter or a shepherd although, most people tells he is the last but, one thing is for sure and that he is a very beautiful lad. One day, when he was guarding his flock the moon, Selene saw him and fell in love with him. The goddess of the moon then went down in an open space in the forest of Latmus and there she kissed him then lay beside him. From then on Endymion never woke up from his slumber, immortally young and beautiful but never waking up. Night after night the Selene would kiss him which caused Endymion to sleep. Ironically though, some said that her passionate love for Endymion only brought her sorrows.
DAPHNE
Only the Roman writer, Ovid tells her story. I found out about Daphne’s story through my high school classmate named Daphne, her name suits her well cause like the Daphne in the story my classmate has a very strong will to fight for what she believes.
Characters
Daphne – a naiad turned huntress and daughter of Peneus, a river god
Apollo – god of prophecy, sun, music and healing
Synopsis
Daphne was naiad, daughter of the river-god named Peneus. She is very independent and resolved to never marry. The naiad refused all the lads who wooed her which made her father frustrated. Peneus tried and tried to convince his daughter, but Daphne keeps on refusing. Being a father he cannot refuse his daughter, Daphne then told her father she wanted to be like Diana the goddess of the hunt, he let her be.
Daphne wears a sleeveless, knee-length dress for her hunting and that was what she was wearing when Apollo saw her and fell in love to her. Apollo tried to catch Daphne but the maiden runs fast, he tried to stop and reason with her saying that he is the Lord of Delphi and he loves her which made Daphne more scared. When Apollo finally was catching up to her, Daphne saw her father’s river and so she cried for Peneus’ help. Then, suddenly she felt numbness take over her body until she turned into a Laurel tree. Dismayed and grieving, Apollo saw how his beloved turned into a tree. Looking at the tree Apollo thought to make it his tree and to crown his victors with its leaves.
ALPHEUS AND ARETHUSA
Once again the Roman writer, Ovid was the only source of this story. This story reminds me of Daphne and Apollo.
Characters
Alpheus – a river-god
Arethusa – a young huntress and follower of Artemis
Synopsis
One day, when Arethusa was tired and hot from a chase came upon a crystal-clear river. The river was under the shade of silvery willow trees. There the huntress decided to rest and take a dip. She slipped off he clothes and swam into the river.
She was enjoying herself when she felt something stir beneath her so she jump to the bank in fright. Then, she heard a voice asking her why she was in a haste. Without thinking twice Arethusa ran as fast as she could. Alpheus tried to stop her and told her he is the river-god and that he loves her. But the huntress did not stop and continued to run. When she was out of breath she called for Artemis for help. The goddess of the hunt turned Arethusa into a spring.
But even if she turned into a spring, Alpheus was still able to follow her. The myth was if you threw something from the Alpheus in Greece it would come out in the well in Sicily.
Works Cited
Hamilton, E. (1942). Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York: Hachette Book Group, Inc.
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