Ceyx and Alcyone

Description of the Characters Ceyx- The king of Thessaly and the son of Lucifer, the light-bearer. He is also the husband of Alcyone Alcyone- The daughter of Aeolus, King if the Winds. Also the wife of Alcyone. Somnus- The God of Sleep Iris- The Rainbow Goddess and the messenger of the Gods. Morpheus- The son of the God of Sleep and a shapeshifter.

Ceyx and Alcyone were lovers who always wanted to be by each others side. However one day, Ceyx had to make a long, dangerous journey and leave Alcyone behind.

On the day of the voyage Ceyx and Alcyone said a tearful farewell. On the voyage, the ship hit a terrible hurricane Everybody died as the ship sank beneath the waves.

Meanwhile, Alcyone was praying every night to the gods for Ceyx’s safe return, unaware that he was dead. Juno was touched by her prayers for one who had been dead so long. She sent her messenger, Iris, to wake Somnus, the God of Sleep.

Iris reported to Somnus what Juno wanted him to do Somnus sent his son, Morpheus to create a dream for Alcyone.

Morpheus went to Alcyone’s house and turned into Ceyx. He convinced her in a dream that Ceyx was dead. When Alcyone woke up she knew that he was dead and wanted to kill herself to join him

The next day Alcyone went to the waterfront and saw her husband’s body She longed to be with Ceyx, so the gods turned them both into birds.

Significance of Myth The significance of this myth is that when two people love each other and are truly devoted to each other, not even death can separate them.

Pygmalion and Galatea

Description of Characters Pygmalion- Gifted young sculptor of Cyprus, woman-hater Venus- Goddess of passionate love Galatea- Pygmalion’s creation and love

Pygmalion vowed never to marry He created a statue and fell in love with it. He obsessed himself with it, but became sad it wasn’t real.

Pygmalion prayed to Venus at her feast that he would find a women like his statue Venus answered his prayers; when he went back home his statue was alive.

Significance of Myth The significance of this myth is that true love conquers all, and love can overcome any obstacle.

BaUCIS AND PHILEMNON

Description of Characters Jupiter- The king of all gods Mercury- The messenger of the gods Baucis and Philemnon- A poor couple that lived in Phrygia

Everybody rejected and insulted them, except one couple. Jupiter and Mercury went down to Earth(disguised as humans) to test the hospitality of people Everybody rejected and insulted them, except one couple. Zeus and Mercury disguised as humans

Only one poor couple, Baucis and Philemnon, accepted the gods into their home . The couple eventually realized the guests were gods. The gods drowned the rest of the city, while making the couple’s house a grand temple.

The gods granted them their wish that they’d die together and be the priests of Jupiter’s temple. They lived cozily and they eventually both turned into a single tree instead of dying.

Significance of Myth The significance of the myth is that it is extremely important to be hospitable; and the Greeks/Romans honored hospitality greatly.