Famous Lovers in Greek Mythology

8/19/2019 Famous Lovers in Greek Mythology

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EROS & PSYCHE


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There was once a king who had three daughters, all lovely maidens, but the youngest

Psyche, excelled her sisters so great that beside them she seemed like a goddess

consorting with mere mortals. The fame of her surpassing beauty spread far and wide

and soon many people came to worship her as though she were a goddess.

Venus’ temples lay in filth and her favorite city lay in ruins, for now, all that cared for

Venus cared for Psyche. Venus grew jealous of Psyche and as always turned to her son

upid for help. !he told upid to go to earth and shoot Psyche with an arrow as to

make her fall in love with the most despicable creature on the earth.

"e would have done so if he was not first shown Psyche. #t was as though upid

pierced his own heart with one of his arrows.

Venus left upid confident that he would carry out her orders. $hat happened next

Venus did not count on. Psyche did not fall in love with a horrible creature and still morestrange she did not fall in love at all.

%ll the men were content in worshiping and admiring her but no one ever truly loved her.

&oth her sisters inexpressibly inferior to her had gotten married to kings and yet she sat

sad and solitary, only to be admired, not loved.

"er father in discourse turned to an oracle of %pollo for advice. The oracle said that

upid himself told him to say that Psyche be dressed in deepest mourning and placed

on the summit of a mountain to be taken away by a winged serpent, stronger than the

gods themselves, to make his wife.

'isery came as her father told the family the lamentable news. They dressed Psyche

up as though she was to attend her own funeral and walked with her to the top of the

hill. Though her parents wept grievously, she kept her courage and said she was glad

the time had come.

They went in despairing grief leaving her helpless on the top of the mountain and

returned to the palace and mourned all their days for her.

%s she sat atop the mountain she wept and trembled not knowing what was to come.

!uddenly a warm breath of wind caressed her neck and she felt herself being lifted up

and away until she came down upon a soft meadow with flowers so fragrant.


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!he had forgotten all her fears here and fell asleep.

%s she woke beside a bright river( and on its bank was a

stately mansion that was fit for the gods themselves. .

!o awe)struck as she hesitated at the threshold, she

heard voices telling her the house was for her and

that she should bath and refresh and a ban*uet table

will be set for her and then it told her they were her

servants.

The food and so delicious and the bath so refreshing.

$hile she dined, she heard sweet melodious music,but could not see who was playing. %s the day passed

she began to feel reassured that she would soon

meet her husband.

%s night came she heard the sweet whispers of her husband+s voice in her ears and

realied that her husband was no monster or shape of terror, but the husband she had

so desperately longed for.

Psyche had not spoken with her sisters in some time and re*uested from her husband

that she bade them welcome to the palace. "e said that this would bring bad fortune

upon her but she wept and wept and soon he gave in and granted her re*uest.

"er sisters greeted her with tears and embraces. &oth sisters became overcome with

jealousy as they realied their wealth was nothing in comparison with hers, they began

plotting a way to ruin her.

That very night Psyche’s husband warned her once more. %lready Psyche’s sisters

realied Psyche’s contradictory remarks on the appearance of her husband and realied

she had not seen him before. They began to invoke feelings of suspicion and fear thather husband was really the serpent that the oracle had said would come and that one

night he would devour her.

Psyche’s heart began to fill with terror and not love. !he plotted that night that she

would sleep with a sharp knife and lamp near her bed, and that once her husband fell

fast asleep that she go to his bed and plunge the dagger into his body for it was


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forsaken that she would see a hideously misshapen body of a monster.

!he was confused she thought it was her loving husband, not a serpent monster, but it

also was her loving husband. !he must have certainty, she finally decided one thing for

sure she would see him tonight. That night she mustered up the courage and lit the

lamp and tiptoed to her husband+s bedside.

%s the light came upon him, she realied it was not a monster but the most beautiful

man she had ever seen, overcome with shame at her mistrust she would have plunged

the dagger into her breast if it had not fallen from her hands.

&ut the same hands that saved her betrayed her, as she trembled a drop of hot oil from

the lamp fell on her husband’s shoulder and he began to wake. %t the sight of this

infidelity, he fled without a word.

Psyche fled into the night in search of her husband, she traveled far and wide in search

for him. 'eanwhile her husband had gone to Venus’ chamber to have his wound caredfor, but as soon as she heard the story she left her him in his pain as she became even

more overcome with jealousy.

!he vowed to show Psyche what it felt like to bring down the wrath of a goddess.

Psyche’s search was to no avail, she had not found her husband so she went to Venus

herself. Venus would grant her her wish if she completed the task of separating a great

*uantity of the smallest seeds by night fall.

%s she sat there alone she realied that this was an impossible task to complete. -o

one had heard Psyche’s prayers for they did not want to become an enemy of Venus.&ut the the tiniest of creatures felt sympathy for her. The ants began to sort the seeds

for Psyche. %ll the seeds lay in ordered neat piles.

This is what Venus saw when she came. /our work is by no means done said Venus.

!he gave Psyche a piece of crust and bade her sleep on the ground as she left to her

soft fragrant couch. The next morning, she devised another task for Psyche, this time a

dangerous one.

There were sheep down near the riverbank with golden fleece. !he was to fetch some

fleece and bring it back to Venus. %s she reached the river, she had the urge to hurl

herself into it ending all her pains, but a voice bade her not to. The voice instructed her

to wait till the sheep came out of the bushes toward the evening for the sheep were

indeed very fierce.

!he did as she was told and once the sheep left she gathered the fleece from the sharp

briars and she carried it back to her cruel mistress.


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Venus received it with an evil smile. Venus knew that Psyche could not have

accomplished this alone and said that she must prove herself by obtaining a flask filled

with water from the river !tyx.

%s she approached the waterfall, she realied that only a winged creature could reach

it. This time her savior was an eagle, who poised with great wings beside her, seied

the flask from her with his beak and brought it back to her full of the black water.

&ut Venus kept on. !he sent Psyche with a box which she was to carry to the

underworld and ask Persephone to fill with some of her beauty. Psyche found her guide

in a tower on her path. #t gave her careful directions on how to get to Persephone+s

palace.

%ll had happened as the her guide had told her and Persephone was willing to do

Venus a favor, and Psyche, greatly encouraged, bore back the box.

The last trial was brought upon herself out of curiosity. !he wished to see the beauty)

charm in the box and perhaps use some herself for she must look beautiful if she was to

see the 0od of 1ove again. !he opened the box but nothing was to be found inside

suddenly a deadly languor took possession of her as she fell into a heavy sleep.

%t this point, upid stepped forward, upid was healed from his wound and had fled the

palace by flying through the windows for Venus had locked him in his chamber.

upid picked Psyche up and wiped the sleep from her eyes and placed it into the box.upid told her to take the box to his mother and all would be fine.

To make sure upid flew up to 'ount 2lympus and spoke with 3upiter himself. %lthough

upid had done 3upiter harm previously by making him turn into a bull and a swan, he

agreed to help him.

3upiter summoned all the gods, including Venus, and announced the marriage of upid

and Psyche. 'ercury brought Psyche to the palace of the gods, and 3upiter himself

gave her the ambrosia to make her immortal.

Venus was in turn satisfied for with Psyche up in "eaven, she would not command

attention from the men on earth.

!o all came to a most happy end. 1ove and !oul 4for that is what Psyche means5 had

sought and, after sore trials, found each other( that union could never be broken.


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The Love Story of Pyramus and Thisbe


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Pyramus was the most handsome of young men and Thisbe was the fairest

beauty of the 6ast.7 82vid in 'etamorphoses Pyramus and Thisbe lived in &abylonia

and from the time they were

young, were neighbors. They

played together daily as children

and fell in love as they grew

older. %lthough neighbors, their

families were hostile to one

another so the love between

Pyramus and Thisbe remained a

secret. They had a special

meeting place at a wall between

their houses. This particular wall

bore a scar. % large crack marred its smooth surface as a result of an earth*uake long

ago. Pyramus and Thisbe communicated through this crack when it was risky to seeone another. 2ne particularly magnificent day, they arrived at their usual meeting place.

The beauty of the day made them lament their situation all the more. They cried as they

watched two hummingbirds fly over the wall together. !uddenly they came to the

decision that they would not be stopped from being together any longer. They decided

to meet that night outside the city gates under a mulberry tree filled white fruit. This

particular tree grew near a stream next to the local cemetery. Thisbe, hidden by a veil,

arrived at the appointed spot first and waited patiently for Pyramus to come. %ll of a

sudden, a lioness fresh from a kill, her jaws covered in blood, slunk out of the brush to

satisfy her thirst at the stream. Thisbe, frightened by this disturbance, ran to a nearby

cave. #n her haste, she dropped her veil and the lioness grabbed it and shredded it withher bloody jaws. 'eanwhile, Pyramus had arrived at the meeting place. %s he

approached the tree he could not help but notice the large paw prints of the lioness. "is

heart beat faster. %s he approached the stream, his fears were confirmed upon seeing

Thisbe’s veil torn and bloodstained. 9nable to find Thisbe and fearing that she was

dead, Pyramus was unable to contain his sorrow. "e drew his sword and plunged it

deeply into his side. %s he removed the sword from his side, blood sprayed the white

fruit on the tree, turning it a dark purple color. 'eanwhile, Thisbe, recovered from her

fright, came back to the meeting place by the stream. There she saw Pyramus’ body

lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. :acked with uncontrollable agony, she took his

sword and threw her body onto it. $ith her dying breath, she pleaded with the gods that

their bodies be buried in a single tomb and that the tree in the special meeting place

would always bear fruit in the color of a dark and mournful color in memory of their

unre*uited love. To this day, the berries of the mulberry tree always turn dark purple in

color when they are ripe.


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Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus was the son of %pollo and alliope, the 'use. %pollo gave his son a lyre and taught him

how to play( 2rpheus did to such perfection that even %pollo was surprised. #t is said that nothing

could resist to his music and melody, neither friends nor enemies or beasts. 6ven trees and rocks

were entranced with his music.

2rpheus fell in love with Eurydice a woman of

uni*ue beauty( they got married and lived happily for

many years. "ymen was called to bless the marriage

and he predicted that their perfection was not meant to

last for years.

%t some time, soon after his omen, 6urydice was

wandering in the forest with the -ymphs, when %ristaeus,

a shepherd saw her and was beguiled by her beauty. "e

started chasing her and making advances on her.

6urydice got scared and tried to escape, but she was

bitten by a snake and died.

2rpheus sang his grief with his lyre and managed to move everything living or not on the world( both

humans and 0ods were deeply touched by his sorrow and grief.

%pollo then advised his son to descend to the "ades and see his wife. %ny other mortal would have

died, but 2rpheus protected by the 0ods, went to the "ades and arrived at the infamous !tygian

realm, passing by ghosts and souls of people unknown. "e also managed to charm erberus, the

known monster with the three heads. 2rpheus presented himself in front of the 0od of the

9nderworld "ades 4Pluto5 and his wife Persephone.

2rpheus started playing for them and even the cold heart of "ades started melting, due to the

melodies coming from 2rpheus lyre. "ades told 2rpheus that he could take 6urydice with him but

under one condition( 6urydice would follow him while walking out to the light from the caves of the

9nderworld, but he should not look at her before coming out to the light because he would lose her

forever. #f 2rpheus was patient enough he would have 6urydice as a normal woman again on his

side.

2rpheus was delighted( he thanked the 0ods and left to ascend to the world. "e was trying to hear

6urydice’s steps, but he could not hear anything and he started believing that the 0ods had fooled

him. 2f course 6urydice was behind him, but as a shadow, waiting to come to light to become a full


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woman again. 2nly a few feet away from the exit, 2rpheus lost his faith and turned to see( he was

6urydice behind him, but her shadow was whisked back among the dead. 6urydice was gone

forever.

2rpheus tried to return to the 9nderworld but a man cannot enter the "ades twice, not alive anyway.

"ere, there are two different versions of the same myth. %ccording to the first version, 2rpheus

started playing a mourning song with his lyre, calling for death so that he can be united with 6urydice

forever. &easts tore him apart, or maybe the 'aenads, in a freny mood. %ccording to another

version, ;eus decided to strike him with a lightning because 2rpheus would reveal the secrets of the

9nderworld to the humans.

#n any case, 2rpheus died but the 'uses decided to save his head and keep it among the living

people to sing for ever, enchanting everyone with the lovely melodies and tones.

Selene & Endymion

The name 6ndymion is not one that isuni*ue to the world of &ishoujo !enshi!ailormoon. 1ike many, many aspects of

the series, 6ndymion is inherited from ancient0reek mythology. There are severaldifferent versions of the same basic story,

but # will try my best to make this as coherentas possible.

6ndymion was a young, handsome mortalman. !ome versions of the story say that

he was a simple shepherd( others claim hewas the


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%lthough the home of ;eus was up above the cloud)capped mountains, in a beautiful country where

there was perpetual sunshine, where fell neither drenching rains nor heavy snows, the great god

often came down to the earth. =isguised as a mortal, he wandered to and fro, mingling with the

people and feeling glad and sorry with them. The people of 0reece had very strange ideas about the

earth in those far)away

childish days. They knew all

about their own fair country, for

they had climbed its mountains

and traversed its valleys( but

beyond these were strange

regions, about which they

thought a great deal, although

they knew but little. Theythought that the earth was flat, like

a great shield( that their own

country was in the centre( and that the home of the gods was 'ount 2lympus, which rose above

them, like the central point on the great brass shields which you have seen. They thought that the

great :iver)2cean flowe+d around the earth, and poured its waters into the %egean !ea and the seas

about which they knew.

-orth of them was the beautiful land of the "yperboreans, in which country were the happiest of

people, who spent their time in singing and dancing, laughing and dreaming, a careless, idle people,

doing no work, never growing old. and always free from sickness or war. % poet has written one of

the songs of these joyous "yperboreans. !outh of 0reece was a country *uite as beautiful, and a

people *uite as happy.)the god)favored 6thiopians. 2n the west were the #sles of the &lessed, where

good people were taken by the gods, and where they lived forever in happiness. !o you see the

0reeks knew very little about the countries around them( for we have learned that these are very

strange and useless beliefs about the earth.

$hen we think that other places are so much better than our own, and that happiness can be found

everywhere else than in our own little corner of the world, we, like the 0reeks, are believers in a land

of the "yperboreans, into which we cannot expect to enter. ;eus often visited these strange and

blissful regions( and he chose "ermes for a companion, because lie had the winged cap and

sandals, and could travel rapidly. Then, too, "ermes was a famous storyteller( and who does not

love to listen to a good story> "ermes+ stories were his own. They were not always true( but they

pleased the dignified and stately ;eus, nevertheless.


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&aucus and Philemon with ;eus and "ermes

2ne day "ermes and ;eus had walked for a long distance in search of the 6lysian Plains. They

were weary and footsore, and they had travelled over steep mountains and through sunny valleys

without having found a path. They had made fre*uent in*uiries, but each person whom they asked

had told them to go in a different direction. !o they decided to give up the search until the next day(

and just as "elios was driving far down in the west, they came to a village, nestled close beneath a

high mountain. "ermes and ;eus were dressed like mortals( their clothes were dusty and torn, and

they looked like very ordinary travellers. %t the outskirts of the village, they came to a fine large

house with marble pillars, around which were great shady trees inviting rest. "ermes said, 1et us

go in here. This will be a nice place to rest.

!o they walked up to the arched portico, and would have entered, but a richly dressed man came

out and bade them begone. %gain and again they sought rest at different houses, with no better

success. #n this manner they passed through the village. %t length they came to a little tumble)down

house with which the $est $ind had played many a rough game. Two old people were sitting on a

rude bench by the door( and at sight of the travellers, they both arose and welcomed them gladly.

They gave up their bench( the housewife brought water in a wooden bowl( while the man unfastened

their sandals, and helped them to bathe their faces, hands, and feet. #nside the house the good lady

spread a coarse cloth upon the table, and began to get supper.

To the wearied and hungry travellers, all this was very pleasant indeed. To be treated as if they were

long)expected guests was as delightful to "ermes and ;eus then as it is to mortals now. They began

to talk to the old man, who seemed cheerful and happy in spite of his poverty. To whom do we owe

this pleasure> + asked ;eus. This is &aucis, my wife, and That is Philemon, my husband, they

both answered, almost in the same breath. They were too polite to ask who the strangers were or

where they were going.

They talked of the harvest and about the games in which some of the young men of the village had

taken part, and had been victorious. Then they went into the house, with its one room, a rickety old

table, and shaky chairs. &aucis began to say how sorry she was that she had nothing better to offer.

!he had only cakes, grapes, and milk( and these+ did not seem very much for two hungry people.

&aucis and Philemon said that they were not at all hungry, and urged their guests to eat all that there

was in the dishes. %nd how they did eat? The dishes were nearly empty( one cake and the last bunch

of grapes remained, and there was no more milk in the pitcher, when "ermes politely asked for

more.


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&aucis tipped the pitcher to pour out the last drop, when, lo? it was full to the brim of rich and

sparkling nectar, while each humble dish was turned into a glittering vessel of gold, filled with rare

dainties, such as &aucis and Philemon had never dreamed of. They were now invited to the feast,

and they fell upon their knees, for they discovered that their visitors were the gods themselves.

0ood &aucis and Philemon, said ;eus, ye have shown us the true beauty of hospitality, and ye

are deserving of gifts worthy of those whom ye have served. :ise and follow us.

The gods led the way to the top of a hill, and there, pausing, bade &aucis and Philemon look back.

The whole scene had changed. They saw no longer the village with its white houses among the

trees, but, instead, a blue and sparkling lake. Tn the midst of this lake, on an island, stood their old

home( and as they looked, it began to change. !lowly its crumbling walls rose into tall and stately

columns, and the old roof became the pediment of a beautiful temple. 2n the pediment were statues

of ;eus and the gods. This shall be your home, said ;eus. #t is a temple sacred to ;eus, and it

shall be taken care of by those who know well how to care for the needs of others. #s there a wish

you would have granted> 0reat father ;eus, said &aucis, u we pray that we may never part, but

that we may go together to the land of the afternoon.

2ne day &aucis and Philemon were standing before the temple( and as they looked lovingly into

each other+s eyes, &aucis said, %h Philemon, would that we could remain here always? !he had

scarcely spoken these words, when Philemon was changed into a beautiful tree( and looking down

at her feet, she saw that she herself was changing. !o &aucis became a beautiful linden, and

Philemon a strong and sturdy oak. @or years they stood before the temple, and with each passingbreee, they whispered loving words to each other.

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Famous Lovers in Greek Mythology