PYGMALION AND GALATEA


As told by Orpheus in Ovid’s Metamorphoses; translated and with an introduction by Mary N. Innes; Penguin Books; 1955

Pygmalion was a young sculptor from Cyprus. He was a misogynist and scorned the company of women, preferring to dedicate himself to his art. He saw women as flawed creatures and vowed never to waste any moment of his life with them. 

Instead he devoted his time, ironically enough, to a statue of a woman. Perhaps he sought to correct in marble the flaws he saw in women of flesh and blood. Whatever the case, he worked so long and with such inspiration on this statue, that it became more beautiful than any maiden that had ever lived or been carved in stone. As he finished the statue's features, they became exquisitely lovely, and he found himself applying the strokes of hammer and chisel with increasing affection. When his chisel finally stopped ringing, there stood before him a woman of such perfection that Pygmalion, who had professed his disdain of all females, fell deeply in love. 

His statue seemed not to be of stone, but of flesh temporarily still, as though at any moment it might turn its head and smile at him. But stone it was, and it could not return his kisses or respond to his loving caress. In bitter frustration he embraced the cold marble maid; what irony that he who had scorned women should fall in love with a woman who could never love him in return! He pretended, as a child would, that she was real. He would dress her in fine cloths, and bring her flowers and gifts. He would take her into his bed at night and fall asleep with the sculpture clasped to his body.

Such a passion could not go unnoticed by the goddess of love, Aphrodite. She took pity on the young man and, when he went to her temple to sacrifice a bull, Aphrodite gave him a sign. As the offering burned on the temple, the flames shot up one, two, three times. Pygmalion went home, wondering what to make of the manifestation he had seen. When he entered his studio, however, and saw Galatea, all other thoughts were banished from his mind. He ran to his statue and embraced it. Did she seem warm to his touch, or was it just residual heat form the sunset that had warmed the stone? He kissed her. Did the statue's lips seem soft? He stood back and regarded her. Did there appear the glow of life from within the marble form? Was he imagining it? No.

He watched in amazement as Galatea began to move. She stretched her arms above her head as though she were waking from a deep sleep. She turned toward him and smiled, and stepped off her pedestal into his arms.

The goddess Aphrodite herself attended their wedding.

source: http://www.wallinstudios.com/e-pygmalionandgalatea_intro.html

Philemon and Baucis


In the Phrygian hill-country, there were once two trees which all peasants near and far pointed out as a great marvel, and no wonder, for one was and oak and the other a linden, yet they grew from a single trunk. The story of how this came about is proof of the immeasurable power of the gods, and also of the way they reward the humble and religious.
Sometimes when Jupiter grew tired of eating ambrosia, drinking nectar, and even a little weary of hearing Apollo's lyre and watching the Graces dance, he would come down to earth. He would disguise himself as a mere mortal and would often travel with Mercury for he was shrewd and resourceful. On this voyage to earth, it was their attempt to see what hospitality lie on earth, for it was he who was protector of all who seek shelter in a strange land.
The two gods accordingly, took on the appearance of lowly vagabonds. They walked door to door asking each home owner to admit them and provide food, but none would let them enter and the door was often barred to them. However as they reached the last house, one of which was poorer than all the rest, the door opened and a warm and cheerful voice bade them enter.
As they entered, the old man set a bench near the fire and told them to rest and stretch out their tired limbs. The old women threw a soft covering over it. Her name was Philemon, she told the strangers, and her husband's Baucis. As the visitors sat at the dining table, they noticed that one leg was propped up by a piece of broken dish for it was shorter than the rest.

As they served the food and the diluted wine, the couple realized that the mixing bowl kept full no matter how much had been taken out. As they saw this, their eyes were overcome with terror and dropping their eyes they prayed silently. Instead of trembling, they told their guests they had a goose and the old man attempted to catch the goose but failed in doing so. But when both painted exhausted from the chase the gods felt that is was time to take some action. "You have been hosts to gods," they said, "and you shall have your reward. This wicked country which despises the poor shall be punished, but not you." They then led the elderly couple out of the hut and then the elderly couple so in amazement as the country-side side that they had known before had disappeared. A great lake surrounded them. There lowly hut began to change into a stately pillared temple of whitest marble with a golden roof.
The god granted the two a wish, and as they did so they couple huddled and whispered. The couple had two requests, one that they become priest of this temple and two that they never die alone, and that they may die together. The gods agreed and were pleased with the two. A long time they served in the the grand edifice. By now they were in extreme old age. Suddenly as they exchanged memories of there former life, each saw the other put forth leaves. Hen bark grew around them both. They had time only to cry, "Farewell, dear companion." As the words passed their lips they became trees, but still they were together. The linden and the oak grew from one trunk.

source: http://www.classicsunveiled.com/mythnet/html/brief3.html#Baucis

Alpheus and Arethusa 

Arethusa, yet another huntress who loved the comfort of the deep woods. She detested love and marriage and vowed never to marry.

One day, as she was tired and hot from the chase, she came upon a crystal-clear river deeply shaded in silvery willows. She undressed and bathed in the river, which was a place that was perfect for bathing. For a while, she swam to and fro, until she began to feel something below her. She sprang up from the river and stood on the bank, as she heard a voice that said "Why such haste fairest maiden?" Without looking back she fled in terror. With all the speed that she could muster up, she kept running and running, but still she was pursued by one stranger, he told her he was the god of the river, Alpheus, and that he was following her only out of absolute love. But she wanted no part of him and yet he unsparingly followed. Arethusa called to her god, Artemis, she changed her into a spring of water, and split the earth so a tunnel was made under the sea from Greece to Sicily. Arethusa plunged down and emerged in Ortygia, where the place in which her spring bubbles up is holy ground, sacred to Artemis.

But it is said that she is still not free of Alpheus. The story is that the god changed back into a river, followed her through the tunnel and the now his water mingles with hers in the fountain. They say that often Greek flowers are seen coming up from the bottom, and that if a wooden cup is thrown into the Alpheus in Greece, it would reappear in Arethusa's well in Sicily.

source:http://www.classicsunveiled.com/mythnet/html/brief4.html

Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus is said to be the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope from the city of Thrace. Thrace is in the upper most corner of northeaster Greece. The people of Thrace embraced music and nurtured Orpheus throughout his childhood. There was no match to Orpheus’ music in the mortal world; only the gods were comparable. When Orpheus played his music, no one could resist him. Throughout his childhood, Orpheus pursued both poetry and music. He became very skilled at the lyre. When his melodious voice accompanied his music it made him very irresistible. It is stated in some Greek text that Orpheus’ music caused human, beasts and inanimate objects to yearn his closeness. This yearning is said to have moved rivers and rocks to be close to him.

Many gatherings were held when Orpheus played his music to both human and beasts. There was a particular gathering when Orpheus spotted a young wood nymph by the name of Eurydice. His eyes fell on her and it was love at first sight. The two spent every waking moment together and soon they were wed.

The wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice was blessed by the god of marriage, Hymenaios. A great party was held after the wedding filled with much joy. As the guest departed, the newlyweds soon left for home.

Aristaeus, a shepherd, was waiting in the bushes for Orpheus and Eurydice to pass. This young shepherd wanted Eurydice himself and was willing to kill Orpheus to get her. As the couple walked by the bush where he was hiding, Aristaeus jumped out to kill Orpheus. Orpheus immediately reacted and grabbed Eurydice’s hand and began to run through the forest. Aristaeus followed and showed no signs of stopping. As they were running, Orpheus felt Eurydice stumble and her hand slipped from his grip. He stopped to help her up and found that she was dead. She had stepped into a nest of snakes and was bitten by a deadly viper.

Orpheus went into great mourning without his beautiful Eurydice. He was no longer carefree and full of life. He wanted Eurydice back so he came up with a supernatural plan. He decided to go to the Underworld to talk with Hades to get his lovely wife back. Apollo, his father, would talk to Hades and ask to hear Orpheus’ plea.

Orpheus entered the Underworld with his lyre and melodious voice. He sang the story of the tragic loss of his wife to King Hades and Queen Persesphone. Both the King and Queen’s heart went out to Orpheus.

King Hades told Orpheus that Eurydice would be allowed to follow him into the Upper-world with one condition. Orpheus must not look at Eurydice as long as she was in the dark. If he looked back, Eurydice would be drawn back into the Underworld forever.

Orpheus left the Underworld with a light heart. As he was approaching the Upper-world, he heard footsteps behind him. Orpheus controlled his urge to look back until he reached the sunlight. Immediately, he looked back and the doors closed to the Underworld. Eurydice was not in the sunlight yet. Orpheus had looked back too soon. He tried to get back into the Underworld but Zeus had locked the gates to him forever. Orpheus was broken-hearted and no longer sang with joy but with extreme sadness. He began to isolate himself, especially from woman, and soon the only thing that consoled him was lying on a flat rock staring at the sky. He did this day in and day out. The women of the area soon scorned his behavior. The anger grew in the women to the point that they gathered together and attacked Orpheus one sunny afternoon. They killed him and cut his body into small pieces. The women then threw the pieces of his body and his lyre into the river. Orpheus’ head and lyre floated down the river to the island of Lesvos. It is there that the people gave Orpheus a proper burial so Orpheus could be with Eurydice in the Underworld. The people of Lesvos believed that the grave emanated music that indicated Orpheus’ reuniting with his love, Eurydice.

source:http://www.helium.com/items/2281145-orpheus-and-eurydice-love-story-orpheus-and-eurydice?page=2

Ceyx and Alcyone

Ceyx was the son of Eosphorus (Lucifer in the Roman myth, meaning "Morning Star"). Ceyx was also the brother of Daedalion. Ceyx told the hero Peleus of the fates of his brother and Chione, the daughter of Daedalion. Ceyx was the king of Trachis, a region in southern Thessaly. Ceyx was known for his wisdom and hospitality. Heracles had stayed in Trachis as his guest, as well as Peleus, the son of King Aeacus of Aegina. Heracles left Calydon with a new wife, Deïaneira, and lived with Ceyx, in friendship. Heracles had aided Ceyx in the war against the Dryopes and the Lapiths. However, Ceyx could not protect the children of Heracles (Heraclids) against Eurystheus, the powerful king of Mycenae and Tiryns. Ceyx advised Iolaus and the Heraclids to seek refuge at Athens. Peleus was exiled from Aegina, for murdering his half brother, Phocus. Phocus was the son of Aeacus and the Nereid Psamathe, sister of Thetis. Ceyx was attending his brother's funeral when Peleus arrived in his court as suppliant. While as a guest of Ceyx, Peleus' cattle were attack by a giant wolf, sent by Psamathe. Ceyx would have hunted the wolf with Peleus, but Ceyx's wife, Alcyone, pleaded with her husband not to go. It was his prayer to Thetis (Peleus' future wife) that she persuaded her sister Psamathe to pardon Peleus for the murder. Psamathe transformed the wolf into stone. Ceyx was married to Alcyone (Ἀλκυόνη), the daughter of Aeolus and Enarete. (In the story told by Ovid's Metamorphoses, her father, Aeolus of Thessaly was mistakenly for Aeolus, the keeper of winds). Ceyx wanted to find out how his brother had died, from the oracle at Delphi. Rather then journey by land where he will encounter enemies, he decided to go by sea. Alcyone felt foreboding over her husband's journey, so she tried to dissuade him from travelling to Delphi by ship. Ceyx refused to let his wife go with him on the voyage, and promised to return within two months. Alcyone was miserable and depressed, weeping over her husband's absence. Ovid gives a long account of how the storm wrecked Ceyx's ship. The ship sank because of the violent sea. Throughout Ceyx's ordeal, Ceyx's thought was fixed on his wife. Ceyx could not swim to safety, before one last wave pounded and drowned him. Every day and night, Alcyone prayed to Hera for her husband's safe return. Her prayers were muttered in vain. Before the end of the second month, Hera sent Morpheus to Alcyone. Morpheus arrived in Alcyone' dream, in the form of her dead husband. Morpheus told Alcyone how her real husband drowned. When she woke, Alcyone was inconsolable. The gods taking pity on Alcyone, so they transformed her and her husband into kingfishers or halcyons. A less romantic version of the fate of Ceyx and Alcyone is found in Apollodorus' work. The gods had transformed Ceyx into a sea swallow and Alcyone into a kingfisher or halcyon, as the sign of wrath and punishment, not out of pity. Ceyx and Alcyone had dared to call themselves, Zeus and Hera. source:http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/lovers.html#Ceyx

Pyramus and Thisbe

PYRAMUS AND THISBE 

Dead body of Pyramus found by Thisbe

Pyramus and Thisbe in classical mythology, youth and maiden of Babylon, whose parents opposed their marriage. Their homes adjoined, and they conversed through a crevice in the dividing wall. On a night when they had arranged to meet at the tomb of Ninus, Thisbe, who was the first at the trysting place, was frightened by a lion with jaws bloody from its prey. As she fled, she dropped her mantle, which was seized by the lion. When Pyramus came, the torn and bloody mantle convinced him that she had been slain. He killed himself, and Thisbe, returning, took her own life with his sword. The white fruit of a mulberry tree that stood at the trysting place was dyed red with Pyramus' blood, and the fruit was ever after the color of blood

source:http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Pyramus+and+Thisbe