Love Myths #2

Pygmalion and Galatea

Pygmalion was a gifted sculptor who detested women and their faults which nature had given them. He found no mortal woman worthy of his love. He resolved never to marry. Nevertheless, he devoted all his genius to an ivory statue of an ideal woman; one he felt presented his ideal mate. He labored long and devotedly on this statue. The more he worked on it, the more beautiful it grew. A strange fate befell this sculptor; he began to fall deeply in love with his creation. Pygmalion brought gifts to his statue; rich robes, gay flowers, and little birds.

On the feast day of Venus, especially honored in Cyprus, Pygmalion made the journey daring to ask the goddess that he might find a maiden as lovely as his statue. Venus answered his prayer. She brought the image to life. When Pygmalion returned home he touched his beautiful statue who turned suddenly warm. He clasped her wrist that began pulsating. He put his arms around her and saw her smile into his eyes.

Venus graced their marriage. Pygmalion named the maiden Galatea, and their son, Paphos who gave his name to Venus' favorite city.

Pyramus and Thisbe

Pyramus and Thisbe grew up in adjoining houses in Babylon. They fell in love but their parents would not allow them to marry one another. After many nights of whispering through a crack in the garden wall, they determined to slip away together in freedom. They agreed to meet at a well-known place, the Tomb of Ninus, under a tall mulberry tree full of white berries, near a cool spring. Thisbe arrived first, but was frightened away by a lioness, which mauled with its bloody jaws the cloak that Thisbe had dropped. That is what Pyramus saw when he appeared a few minutes later. He concluded that Thisbe was dead and that he was responsible. He lifted up the cloak, kissed it, and carried it to the mulberry tree. He drew his sword and plunged it into his side. His blood changed the blooms and fruit of the tree from white to purple.

Thisbe returned wishing that the lioness was gone and longing to see Pyramus. Discovering Pyramus' body, she kissed him begging him to look at her. At the sound of her voice he opened his heavy eyes then died. She found his sword and her cloak. She killed herself with the same sword. The ashes of the unfortunate pair were placed in the same urn. Mulberry trees continue to produce deep red fruit, a memorial of the two lovers.

Ceyx and Alcyone (Halcyone)

Ceyx, a King of Thessaly, was the son of the morning star, Eosphorus (Lucifer). Alcyone, his wife, was the daughter of the king of the winds, Aeolus. The two were devoted to each other. It distrubed them to be apart especially when Ceyx had to journey across the sea to consult a oracle about a troubling matter.

Alcyone prayed to the gods for Ceyx's safe return, to Juno most of all who protects marriages. A fierce storm broke over the sea and Ceyx was drowned. Juno summoned Iris, her messenger goddess, to go to the house of Somnus, the god of sleep, and bid him send a dream to Alcyone about the fate of Ceyx. Somnus summoned his son, Morpheus, who imitates any and every human being in dreams, to fly straight to Alcyone's bed, to take on the face of Ceyx, and to tell her the sad news. When Alcyone awoke, she ran to the sea crying, "Wait for me. I will join you." She gazed seaward and noticed something floating toward her. Horor struck her heart when she saw Ceyx's dead body. Grief-strucken she leaped into the water but instead of sinking she was flying. She was turned into a bird, a gannet. As she flew to the body it was gone. Ceyx became a bird, a kingfisher. Every year during the winter solstice when the sea is calm, the birds brood over their nest floating on the sea.