Greek Myths: Pyramus, Thisbe, Orpheus, Eurydice

• These notes cover several Greek myths, exploring themes of love, loss, jealousy, and fate

Pyramus & Thisbe

• Pyramus and Thisbe were lovers from Babylon whose families forbade their love
• They secretly communicated through a crack in the wall
• They planned to meet under a mulberry tree
• Thisbe arrived first but fled upon seeing a lioness with a bloody mouth and dropped her veil
• Pyramus found the bloody veil and assumed Thisbe had been killed and killed himself with a sword
• Thisbe found him dying and also took her own life
• Their blood stained the white mulberries red, and this explains their color today

Orpheus & Eurydice

• Orpheus, the greatest musician, married Eurydice, but she died after being bitten by a snake
• Orpheus went to the Underworld and moved Hades and Persephone with his music and was granted a chance to bring her back
• He was warned not to look at her until they reached the surface, but he turned around too soon out of doubt
• Eurydice was pulled back into the Underworld forever
• Orpheus wandered in sorrow and was killed by Maenads

Ceyx & Alcyone

• Ceyx, a king, set out on a dangerous sea journey, leaving his wife, Alcyone, behind
• Despite her prayers, his ship sank in a storm, and Ceyx drowned
• The gods took pity on Alcyone and sent her a dream revealing her husband's fate
• She threw herself into the sea and was transformed into a bird
• Ceyx was also turned into a bird, and every winter, the gods created "halcyon days" for them to nest peacefully

Pygmalion & Galatea

• Pygmalion, a sculptor, didn't think any women were perfect enough for him
• He sculpted an ivory statue of an ideal woman and fell in love with it
• He prayed to Aphrodite to bring the statue to life
• The goddess granted his wish, and the statue, Galatea, became a living woman
• They married, showing that love, devotion, and artistry can create miracles

Baucis & Philemon

• Baucis and Philemon were a poor couple who offered hospitality to Zeus and Hermes who were disguised as beggars
• Their neighbors rejected the gods
• They were spared by Zeus from a flood, and their home was transformed into a grand temple
• They were given the wish to die at the same moment and turned into intertwined trees, symbolizing eternal love

Endymion

• Endymion, a shepherd, was loved by Selene, the moon goddess
• She descended from the sky each night to watch over him
• To keep him forever unchanged, Selene put him into an eternal sleep
• Selene visited him every night, symbolizing love that is eternal yet tragically distant

Daphne

• Daphne, a nymph, was pursued by Apollo after he was struck by Eros' arrow
• Daphne wished to remain free and untouched by love and pleaded with her father for help
• She was transformed into a laurel tree just as Apollo reached her
• Apollo declared that the laurel would always be sacred to him
• Her story reflects themes of independence and the consequences of divine desire

Alpheus & Arethusa

• Arethusa, a follower of Artemis, wished to remain chaste
• Alpheus, a river god, fell in love with her and pursued her
• Arethusa prayed to Artemis, who transformed her into a freshwater spring
• Alpheus merged with her waters so that they would be together forever
• This myth represents the persistent nature of love and how water connects distant lands

Narcissus

• Narcissus was a beautiful young man who rejected all who loved him
• The nymph Echo, who was cursed to only repeat the last words spoken to her, fell in love with Narcissus
• Narcissus cruelly pushed her away, and Echo wasted away in the mountains
• Nemesis lured Narcissus to a crystal-clear pool, where he saw his own reflection and became completely mesmerized
• He died either from starvation or by drowning
• Narcissus was transformed into a flower-the narcissus (daffodil)

Themes and Lessons of the Myth of Narcissus

• Vanity and Self-Obsession: Narcissus' downfall shows the dangers of excessive self-love
• Unrequited Love: Echo represents those who give love freely but receive nothing in return
• The Power of Fate: Tiresias' prophecy proves how destiny is unavoidable
• The Origin of Narcissism: This inspired the modern psychological term narcissism

Hyacinth

• Hyacinth was a Spartan prince loved by Apollo
• Zephyrus, the West Wind, was jealous
• Apollo threw a discus, and Zephyrus blew a strong wind, causing the discus to strike Hyacinth fatally in the head
• Apollo transformed him into a purple flower-the hyacinth
• The flower's petals were said to be marked with the letters "Al" (Greek for "Alas!")

Themes and Meanings of the Myth of Hyacinth

• Love and Loss: Reflects the deep grief of losing a loved one, even for a god
• Jealousy and Tragedy: Zephyrus' envy leads to Hyacinth's untimely death
• Immortalizing Love: Hyacinth's transformation into a flower shows that love and memory can endure beyond death

Adonis

• Adonis was loved by Aphrodite and Persephone and was born from a myrrh tree after his mother's curse
• Aphrodite placed him in a chest and gave him to Persephone where the two goddesses fought over him
• Zeus ruled that Adonis would spend one-third of the year with Persephone, one-third with Aphrodite, and the remaining third wherever he chose
• Adonis grew into a skilled hunter but was killed by a wild boar (sent by Ares)
• Aphrodite transformed his blood into the anemone flower

Themes and Symbolism of the Myth of Adonis

• Life, Death, and Rebirth: Adonis' time divided between the Underworld and the living world mirrors the cycle of the seasons
• Love and Jealousy: The story reflects the intense passions of gods and mortals
• The Power of Beauty: Adonis' beauty led to desire, competition, and ultimately, his downfall