The Stories of Love and Adventure
is a compilation of Greek myths, consisting of the following:
- Cupid and Psyche
- Venus and Adonis
- Minerva and Arachne
- Phaeton
- Pegasus and Bellerophon
- Otus and Ephialtes
- Daedalus and Icarus
- Midas
- Aesculapius
- Glaucus and Scylla
In this topic, we will learn about our favorite Greek gods and goddesses’ variety of episodes. So, get on your imaginary Sun chariot, fasten your seat belt, and let us further explore Mythology and what the Stories of Love and Adventure has to offer!
Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Identify various themes depicted by the stories of love and adventure
- Relate the experiences of the characters with the present literary works
- Identify everyday things, events and phenomena related to these myths
Cupid and Psyche
To read about this topic, click Here.
Venus and Adonis
Characters:
- Venus – the goddess of love and beauty
- Persephone – the queen of the underworld
- Adonis – god of beauty
Synopsis:
From the moment Adonis was born, Venus immediately fell in love with him and declared that he would be hers. She brought him to Persephone to look after him. However, Persephone, too, fell in love with Adonis and refused to give him back. Zeus, the king of the gods and goddesses, then decided that Adonis should spend half a year with each. He would spend the Spring and Summer with Venus, and the Autumn and Winter with Persephone.
One unfortunate day, Venus happened to not be with him. Adonis hunted a boar and hurled his spear at it. Regrettably, he was only able to wound the boar. The boar, as revenge, attacked Adonis. It gored him with its tusks. Hearing his cry of pain, Venus immediately rushed to him; but she was too late–Adonis was already on the verge of death.
After he died, a crimson anemone bloomed from where his blood had stained the Earth.
Minerva and Arachne
Characters:
- Minerva – the goddess of wisdom
- Arachne – a mortal with excellent skills in weaving
Synopsis:
Minerva, the goddess of weaving, was outraged when a mortal, named Arachne, declared her work to be superior over the goddess’. Minerva then paid her a visit and challenged her to a contest. Arachne, of course, accepted.
The outcome of Minerva’s work was undoubtedly marvelous; but Arachne’s work was not as inferior. In Minerva’s anger, she beat the girl around her head with her shuttle. Mortified, Arachne hanged herself.
Minerva took pity in the girl. She resurrected Arachne as a spider that is forever weaving and hanging on a web.
Phaeton
Characters:
- Phaeton – a young whippersnapper in Egypt. Son of Clymene and the god of Sun
- Helios – Phaeton’s father and the god of Sun
- Clymene – Phaeton’s mother
Synopsis:
This myth is about Phaeton who bragged to another kid that the Sun god was his father. The kid named Epaphus did not believe him and said that his mother just made that story up. Phaeton confronted her mother about it and she told him to search for his father and ask him the truth himself. When he met Helios, he asked if he was his father. The Sun god swore by the river Styx that he would give anything Phaeton asks and he would only do that for his son. Phaeton became convinced and asked his father to let him drive his Sun chariot. Of course, the Sun god was reluctant but he had no choice but to comply since he swore by the river Styx.
Since Phaeton was not authorized to ride the chariot, the horses went wild that he had a hard time controlling them. He set parts of the Earth on fire when it crashed down. The scorched part of Northern Africa caused by this accident is now known as the Sahara dessert. He eventually died when Zeus struck him with a thunderbolt.
Pegasus and Bellerophon
Characters:
- Pegasus – Winged-horse that came from the blood droplets of Medusa
- Bellerophon – son of King Glaucus
Synopsis:
Bellerophon, the son of the late King Glaucus, wanted Pegasus. Since he was peers with the Divide gods and goddesses, Athena helped him charm Pegasus and he was successful. Later, Anteia, the wife of King Proetus, fell in love with Bellerophon but he turned her down. With this, she was infuriated. She told her husband that Bellerophon had wronged him. Proetus wanted to kill Bellerophon but he was a guest, and it is forbidden for them to harm a guest. So, he asked Bellerophon to go to the king of Lycia in Asia.
Bellerophon went there with Pegasus and was warmly welcomed by the Lycian king. He was already served by the Lycian king with hospitality before he learned that Proetus wanted him dead. Instead, he set him to kill the Chimaera, which he thought would be the end of him. Unfortunately for the king, Bellerophon returned victorious. They became friends later and he allowed Bellerophon to marry his daughter. Alas, Bellerophon thought he could ride up Pegasus up to the Mount Olympus where he planned to live his life as an immortal.
The gods, especially Zeus, were angered. Pegasus went against Bellerophon and threw him off his back before they could even reach Mount Olympus and Bellerophon died wandering around with no direction.
Otus and Ephialtes
Characters:
- Otus and Ephialtes – gigantic twins of Poseidon
- Poseidon – the god of sea
- Zeus – the god of the sky and ruler of the Olympians
- Artemis – the goddess of moon and hunting
Synopsis:
Otus and Ephialtes were twin giants who think that they are more powerful than the gods and goddesses, that they even challenged them several times. First is when they kidnapped Ares, the god of war, who was later freed by Hermes, the messenger of the gods. Next, they put a mountain over another. Zeus wanted to punish them by striking a thunderbolt but Poseidon begged him not to. And last is when they tried to kidnap Artemis who managed to escape. While they were chasing after her, they saw a beautiful white animal and threw spears at it.
The animal disappeared and the spears hit the giants instead and they died. It was after all, Artemis, who took her revenge.
Daedalus and Icarus
Characters:
- Daedalus – builder of the labyrinth for King Minos’ son.
- Icarus – son of Daedalus
- King Minos – the minotaur’s father
- Minotaur – the monstrous step-son of Minos; offspring of Pasiphae and the Cretan Bull.
Synopsis:
King Minos ordered Daedalus to create a labyrinth where he hid his beastly stepson Minotaur. Every seven years, Minos orders fourteen men and women to enter the labyrinth where they would be eaten by Minotaur. Daedalus helped a hero, named Theseus, escape and Minos was angered. He locked both Daedalus and his son, Icarus, in the labyrinth. Daedalus then came up with an escape plan. With feathers and wax, he created wings for them both. They flew out of the labyrinth.
Icarus disobeyed his father’s warning about not flying too close to the sun. The sun melted the waax on his wings and he fell to his death.
Midas
Characters:
- Midas – king of Phrygia
- Bacchus – god of wine and fertility
- Apollo – god of sun and healing
Synopsis:
Whatever Midas touches turns into gold. This started after he welcomed and served a drunkard into his home. He was rewarded by Bacchus. He told Midas that whatever he wishes would come true. Midas wished that whatever he touches will turn to gold. This wish became more of a punishment when Midas became hungry and thirsty because his food and drinks also turned to gold. Bacchus told him to wash off in the river Pactolus if he wanted to lose his gift and he did so.
Later, he was punished by Apollo by giving him asses ears. Midas was chosen as one of the umpires in a musical competition between Apollo and Pan. Apollo’s music was unbeatable but he still preferred Pan’s. He was given the asses ears for his stupidity in judgment.
Aesculapius
Characters:
- Aesculapius – son of Apollo
- Apollo – god of Sun and healing
- Coronis – mother of Aesculapius
Synopsis:
Apollo was in love with Coronis, who cheated on him with a mortal. Coronis later on died, and Apollo did what Zeus did with Dionysus. When his son, Aesculapius was born, he entrusted him over to Chiron. Chiron was known for his ability to heal, but Aesculapius surpassed him. Aesculapius can heal all maladies and even bring people back from the dead. Zeus was angered by this and struck Aesculapius with a thunderbolt and died. Apollo got mad at his son’s death and went to Cyclopes who can conjure thunderbolts and used it to kill either the Cyclopes themselves or their son. And Zeus, in return was angered and punished Apollo to serve King Admetus as a servant.
Even though Aesculapius died, he was honored by mortals. People would still visit his temple and pray to him.
Glaucus and Scylla
Characters:
- Glaucus – fisherman
- Scylla – a nymph whom Glaucus fell in love with
- Circe – an enchantress
Synopsis:
Glaucus was a fisherman who asked Ocean, the titan god of great river Okeanos, and Tethys, wife of Ocean and titan goddess of fresh water, to make him immortal. They and the rivers turned him into a half man and half fish. One day, he saw Scylla bathing and approached her, but she turned away from him. He confessed to her but she still ignored him so Glaucus went to Circe to ask for vial that would make Scylla fall in love with him. Instead, Circe fell for Glaucus who rejected her. In anger, Circe conjured a poison and spilled it where Scylla bathes.
When the curse hit Scylla, she turned into a monster in which serpents and fierce dogs’ heads grew from her body.