Psyche and Cupid:

Once upon a time.. Psyche was the little daughter among the 3 princesses of a king. Her
fairness far outshone her sisters and any other girls in the mortal land and that made Venus (or
Aphodite) the Goddess of Love and Beauty so envious and anxious because people forgot
to worship her power. Thus, she told her son Cupid the winged God of Love to shoot his
arrows making Psyche fall in love with the ugliest man ever. However, the trouble was that Cupid
also fell in love with Psyche from the very first time he saw her as if he had just shot himself (I
think this is the best part of this version because the God of Love also got trapped in the
troubles he brought to mortals and also love does happen even without getting shot with one of
those invisible golden arrows).
So he begged for help from Apollo to fake an oracle telling the king that his little daughter had to
marry a terrible serpent to save his people. Psyche accepted her fate because it was a
princesss responsibility and she even tried to console her parents grieve. She was left alone in
a mountain, but no serpent came as said. She only felt a cool breeze taking her to a magnificent
palace where she was served like a queen by invisible servants. Her husband only came to her
at night and she never saw his face. However, she also quietly fell in love with him.
Then one day her husband allowed her to receive her two sisters as guests but he told her not to
listen to them and try to find out who he was: On the day you know who I am well be parted
forever.
When seeing Psyche again, the 2 sisters became more envious of Psyches luxurious life than
happy that she was still alive. They persuaded Psyche that her husband was actually a serpent
and prompted her to kill him to save herself. Psyche was very naive, she felt too scared by the
evil words from her sisters. She couldnt think about killing her husband who was very nice to
her but at least she had to make sure he was not a monster.
One night Psyche waited for her husband to sleep soundly and came back with a lamp. Under
the light she finally saw her husbands face, as beautiful as he always was, the God of Love.
She was deeply touched and her hands were trembling so hard that she dropped a bit oil from
the lamp on his shoulder and awoke him. He immediately flew away and she could still hear his
voice in the wind Love cant exist without honesty and trust.

Psyche felt so awful. She loved him with all her heart and decided to go to look for him. Days..
months.. years passed by but no sight of her beloved husband. She asked all the Olympus
Gods and Goddesses for help but no one spared her any sympathy just because they didnt

want troubles with Venus. Thus, Psyche decided to search for Venus herself to beg her permit to
meet Cupid again.
Meanwhile, Venus found out her sons disobedience and locked him in his room to prevent him
from going for his wife. Then one day she finally met with Psyche. The envious Goddess thought
she would challenge Psyche with difficult tasks so that she would either die or become old and
ugly so that Cupid would not love her anymore.
She asked Psyche to separate a mess of grains; then to get some wool from the vicious golden
sheep; and then bring back some water from the River Styx, the river lay between the mortal
land and the Underworld. Amazingly while all the Gods and Goddesses ignored the poor girl,
the little creatures sympathized with her and Psyche overcame all 3 tasks thanks to help from
the ants, a little tree and an eagle.
Venus was so angry at Psyches success. She finally came up with the most wicked idea which
was to challenge Psyche to go to the Underworld to ask for a bit of beauty from
Queen Proserpina (or Persephone). Psyche went on her long journey again and was shown
how to go to the Underworld and come back alive by an old tower. Many days and difficulties
went by and finally she met with Proserpina and had a piece of her beauty to put in a small box
to go back to Venus. However, on the way back Psyche was curious and also she wanted to
take a bit of that piece to beautify herself before seeing Cupid again. She opened the box but
instead of something visible there was only an infernal sleep that took over her and get her to
sleep forever.
Luckily, Cupid had found the way out of his locked room. He had forgiven his wife and was flying
around to look for her. He found Psyche sleeping and wiped out the sleep on her face. Putting
the Proserpinas beauty back into the box he told Psyche to come to Venus immediately while
he came up to the Olympus mount to beg Jupiter (or Zeus) to accept their marriage. After
hearing everything Psyche had done, the God decided that she were allowed to be married to
an immortal God and became a Goddess. Only then had Venus have to obey Jupiters decision
but she was also so impressed by Psyches will that she totally had no objections.
And so that was the end of the story.. Or no, not yet.. And they lived happily forever after..
So, I think the most awesome thing about this story is Psyches incredible power to overcome all
the challenges and difficulties taking into account she was a princess at birth who had
everything taken care of. Besides, I think she was quite blind too. Say, if she became ugly and
old would Cupid still love her? Did she have a plan B? Obviously not. She only knew that her
heart was beating for him so if Cupid didnt love her anymore she would just simply die.

And it was also amazing how Cupid accused Psyche of dishonesty and untrustworthiness. It
was clear that he was actually the one who started all the lies. He lied to his mother, to her father
and especially he didnt trust her, and then he gave himself the right to abandon Psyche, to
leave her broken-hearted and feeling guilty about herself. And during her long journey where
was he? Did he do anything? No! He only appeared at the end of the road being the prize for
her difficult days. And mind you, even when Psyche opened that little box she also thought of
him, how happy he would be if his wife became more beautiful. It was all for him / because of
him.
Anyway, I still have to say I admire Psyche from the bottom of my heart. She was the purest,
bravest, most beautiful, most adorable, most decisive female character of the whole Greek
Mythology that I have read. I wont say Cupid deserved her love totally though. However, if there
were no Cupid probably Psyche would never be able to find out her strong will and enormous
power. And again, their love didnt happen because of those invisible arrows. Magic! Maybe
thats why Cupid was a winged God. Love has to have wings to fly and to create beautiful and
incredible things in life.
http://www.thehellenictimes.com/love.html

Philemon and Baucis

A kindly, elderly couple from Phrygia who entertained and comforted strangers even though they
themselves were impoverished. One set of "bums" were impressed and decided to reward the
couple; indeed, the strangers could, for it was Zeus and Hermes, who had been treated rudely in
their previous encounters with mortals. A grand palace was created for the kindly couple, and the
gods granted their wish that they should die at the same moment. Both were transformed into trees:
Philemon the oak and Baucis the lime; their boughs were entertwined, symbolizing their everlasting
love.
Penthesilea and Achilles
Penthesilea was the valiant queen of the Amazons. The daughter of Ares, she was an ally to the
Trojans, and fought rather heroically against the Achaeans. In battle with Achilles, he [unfortunately]
killed her, but upon seeing her dying, fell immediately in love with her beauty and bravery. He was
ridiculed by fellow warrior Thersites; Achilles, blinded by anger and love, killed the man.
Pygmalion and Galatea

This is actually a Latin myth, but it is rather amusing, so I'll include it: Pygmalion, king of Cyprus, was
extremely dissatisfied with the vain and loose women of his kingdom. Instead of seeking a mate, he
spends his time carving from marble his ideal woman, whom he lovingly refers to as Galatea [not the
same as the one in a previous entry]. At a festival honoring Cyprus's patron goddess Aphrodite, he
prays for a wife like his statute. Aphrodite is charmed by his devotion. When he returns to his home,
he embraces the marble to find that it returns his hugs. Aphrodite has granted him his wishGalatea
is alive.
Hypermnestra
Danaus was the king of Argos; his brother, Aegyptus was the king of Egypt [go figure]. Aegyptus sent
his fifty sons to marry Danaus's fifty daughters; Danaus, not trusting his brother, refused at first; the
sons seiged Argos, and Danaus was forced to comply. On the wedding night, however, he gave
each of his daughters long, sharp pins to conceal in their hair; at night, they were to kill their new
grooms. All obeyed except one, Hypermnestra. Her husband, Lynceus, was good and kind and
spared her viginity, and she found that she could not kill him and helped him escape. Danaus,
furious, had her tried for life, but she was spared and eventually reunited with Lynceus. Her love also
saved her from the fate of her murderous sisters: a lifetime of carrying jars of water with perforations.
Hero and Leander
This tale is based upon a later poem by Musaeus around the fourth century C.E.. Nonetheless, it
follows the tragic theme of two doomed lovers. Hero was a Sestos priestess of Aphrodite, and
Leander was a lad of Abydos. They were on opposite sides of the Hellespont, but the youths fell in
love anyway. At nightfall, Hero would hang a torch so Leander could swim across to her, using the
light to guide him. One stormy night, the wind blew the light out; Leander lost his way and drowned.
Upon learning of her lover's death, Hero also drowned herself in order to be with him. The story is a
favorite among Renassaince artists; Rubens has an especially astonishing portrait.
Orpheus and Eurydice
One of the most tragic love stories of Greek mythology. Orpheus was the son of the Muse Calliope
and therefore a grand musician. His wife was a dryad, Eurydice, who also attracted the attentions of
Aristaeus. Aristaeus pursued her until she stepped on a poisonous snake and was forced into the
Underworld. Orpheus was determined to retrieve his beloved. He journeyed down to the underworld,

first charming Charon, ferryman of the dead, and lulling to sleep Cerberus, the three-headed
watchdog. He encountered Hades, who initially refused to release Eurydice, but Orpheus's music so
touched Persephone that she pleaded Orpheus's case, and Hades relented. There was one
condition: that Orpheus not look back on their way out. Of course, Orpheus was worried that
Eurydice was not behind him, and he fatefully glanced back to see if she was following him. She
disappeared back into Hades, and he lost her forever. Unable to live without her, Orpheus spent the
rest of his days wandering in aimless sorrow before he was finally murdered by maenads, the
drunken followers of Dionysus.

According to ancient Roman mythology and Ovid's Metamorphoses, Philemon and Baucis
had lived out their long lives nobly, but in poverty. Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods, had
heard of the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences with humans, he
had serious doubts as to their goodness.
Jupiter was about to destroy mankind, but was willing to give it one final chance before
starting over again.
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Stories Ancient Greece
So, in the company of his son Mercury, the wing-footed messenger god, Jupiter went about,
disguised as a worn and weary traveler, from house to house among the neighbors of
Philemon and Baucis. As Jupiter feared and expected, the neighbors turned him and

Mercury away rudely. Then the two gods went to the last house, the cottage of Philemon
and Baucis, where the couple had lived all their long married lives.
Philemon and Baucis were pleased to have visitors, and insisted that their guests rest
before their little hearth fire. They even lugged in more of their precious firewood to make a
greater blaze. Unasked, Philemon and Baucis then served their presumably starving guests,
fresh fruits, olives, eggs, and wine.
Soon the old couple noticed that no matter how often they poured from it, the wine pitcher
was never empty. They began to suspect that their guests might be more than mere
mortals. Just in case, Philemon and Baucis decided to provide the closest they could come
to a meal that was fit for a god.
They would slaughter their only goose in their guests' honor. Unfortunately, the legs of the
goose were faster then those of Philemon or Baucis. Even though the humans were not as
fast, they were smarter, and so they cornered the goose inside the cottage, where they were
just about to catch it.... At the last moment, the goose sought the shelter of the divine
guests. To save the life of the goose, Jupiter and Mercury revealed themselves and
immediately expressed their pleasure in meeting an honorable human pair. The gods took
the pair to a mountain from which they could see the punishment their neighbors had
suffered -- a devastating flood.
Asked what divine favor they wanted, the couple said that they wished to become temple
priests and die together. Their wish was granted and when they died they were turned into
intertwining trees.
The Moral: Treat everyone well because you never know when you'll find yourself in the
presence of a god.

Baucis and Philemon, A Greek Love

Story
Near a swampy lake in Phyrgia there is a low wall enclosing two treesa linden
and an oak. Long long ago Zeus visited this land with his son, Hermes, the
messenger god. The two gods traveled through the land, disguised as ordinary
travelers, knocking on doors and asking for shelter and food. They were turned
away at door after door until they reached the humble shack of Baucis, a kind

old woman, and Philemon, her husband, humble farmers, who welcomed them
in.
Baucis and Philemon had married young and worked and
raised their family together and grown old, still in love and happy, though poor.
With the two visitors seated a their humble table, Baucis kindled a fire and
Philemon went to the garden to gather herbs for the stew pot. He flung in the
rind of bacon and added water to the pot, stirring in the vegetables. All the
while Baucis and Philemon cheerfully entertained their guests with conversation.
When the meal was prepared and spread on the table. They began to eat.
The old couple noticed with astonishment that their wine, no matter how much
was poured, never ran out.

With humble surprise and some fear, the two recognized that their visitors were
gods. They fell on their faces and begged pardon for the
humble entertainment they had provided. The scrambled to add their lone
goose to the meal, but the goose could not be caught. Zeus raised them to their
feet and declared that though the ungrateful cruel village would be destroyed,
Baucis and Philemon would be preserved. Zeus and Hermes took the couple to
the top of a nearby hill and they all watched as a lake rose up and covered the
whole of the village except for a little island upon which stood the small cottage
of Baucis and Philemon. The cottage transformed into
a beautiful columned temple before their eyes.

Then Zeus asked the couple what they would ask of him. The
consulted together then Philemon begged that they might be made priests of
the temple and when their time came to die they might leave this earth at the
same time so as not to be parted in sorrow. Zeus granted their desire.
For many more years the couple were priests of the small pretty temple and
blessed all travelers who came their way with rest and food and safety
on their travels. One day as they stood bent and stooped in the yard in front of
the temple they saw one another changing into trees before their eyes.
They understand that the time had come for them to leave the earth. Baucis
changed into a beautiful linden and Philemon into a mighty oak. They stand
there today, branches intertwining to remind all of their love and kindness.

The Discussion
Talk about the story with your kids. Ask them what they like and do not like
about the story. What do you think the moral of the story is?

The Activity
Print these Baucis and Philemon puppets figures onto card stock, color the
pictures, cut out the circles, and attach craft sticks to the back. Then have your
kids tell the story back to you as well as they can remember. They can each
take a turn telling the story in their own way.

Additional Layers

Look up the details about linden and oak trees. How old do they get?
What do their leaves and bark look like. How tall do they grow?

The Greek Poet Ovid wrote the story of Baucis and Philemon in
his Metamorphosis, VIII. Learn more about Ovid.
Jonathan Swift wrote a parody of the Baucus and Philemon story in a
poem called On the Ever-Lamented Loss of the Two Yew Trees In the Parish of
Chilthorne, Somerset.
The idea that the gods, or angels, might be travelers in disguise and
therefore you should give hospitality to strangers, is not just a Greek one.
Does your religious or cultural tradition contain stories or ideas about this?
What does a Greek temple look like? Learn more about the architecture of
these structures and draw a picture of what you think the temple of Baucis
and Philemon might have looked like.

Who is the author?

Olivia Coolidge (retold)

a total change in shape or form

metamorphosis

What did Zeus and Hermes morph into?

Humans

Why did they come down to earth?

looking for food and shelter

Who finally took Zeus and Hermes in?

A poor old couple named Baucis and Philemon

Why did Baucis and Philemon have little to offer?

they lived entirely from the produce of their pot of land and a few goats, fow, and pigs.

How did Baucis and Philemon react when the strangers asked for help?
They immediatley welcomed them in and offered them the best of what they had.

What did Baucis and Philemon want to offer the strangers for the
second course?
Fruit, wine, and a goose. Philemon wore himself out trying to catch the goose and the
strangers told him to let it be.

What happened when Philemon got up to refill the wine in the mixing
bowl?
The bowl was already full as if it had not been touched. They knew they must be in the
presence of gods.

What did the couple ask for when the gods offered to reward them with
whatever they want?
They asked to turn the cottage into a temple where the gods may always be served and
where they may live out the remainder of their days to worship them.

When the gods offered them a second wish, what did they ask for?
That when it was time for them to die that they die within the same hour.

What happened when Baucis and Philemon died?

they turned into two tall trees with their branches interlaced.


What were the two metamorphoses in this story?
Zeus and Hermes turned into humans
Philemon and Baucis turned into trees

What was the lesson in this story?

Don't be selfish. Be generous to people.

Name 3 possible themes in this story.

1. Generous people are rewarded
2. You do not need to be wealthy to be generous
3. Always be kind to strangers, as there is no telling who they are.

1) The two Gods Zeus and Hermes come down to Earth because they want to see if the
people are following the law of letting strangers enter your home and taking care of them.
2) Baucis and Philemon relize that the two strangers are Gods when the they go to get more
wine and the bucket of wine is full of wine already.
3) The old couple please the Gods by being hospitable and wishing not for money or
materials, but for their house to turn into a temple where they can worship the Gods and for
them to die within the same hour because they love each other so much that they cannot
live without the other.
4) The reward that Hermes offers to the old couple is wishes that he would grant.
5) Philemons two wishes were that their house would turn into a temple to worship the Gods
and that he and his wife would die within the same hour. Their house did turn into a temple
and they both turned into a tree together at the same time.

6) The metamorphois in this story was disguise and reward. The disguise in this story was
when Zeus and Hermes came down disguised as humans, and the reward was that Baucis
and Philemon's house turned into a temple and they turned into a tree.
7) I think that the Greeks learned to be hospitable and not greedy in this story. Both of these
lessons are still important today. It is important to not be greedy because if you are, nobody
will like you. It is also important to be hospitable because how would you like to not have a
shelter or food and when you ask for it, they say no and walk away.
8) I think that today we treat strangers as crimanals because parents are always telling their
kids "Don't talk to strangers!". I believe that we treat them this way because we watch the
news, the news is always talking about negative connataions, for example: so and so was
kidnapped by this man just last night! I think that not many strangers are bad and we should
treat them with respect. If Zeus and Hermes came to my neighborhood right now, I think that
the majority of people would say something like this: "Well, there is a hotel over there
somewhere." or "Sorry, I am going out tonight. I can't."
9) I think that my parents are like Baucis and Philemon are like my parents because we are
Christians and we belive to treat others as we want to be treated. If a stranger came to our
house hopeing for shelter, my parents would probably let him or her stay at our house.
10) I believe that the theme always be kind to strangers, as there is no telling who they
might be, is a good theme because if I were a stranger, I would want to be treated with
respect. Also it is true that if a stranger calls you to come over, they might try to kidnap you,
but if they ask for food or shelter at your front door, they will most likely not harm you in any
way. I think that the news should also have some happy conatations about strangers too,
because normally they are negative. All because of the news and some bad people, people
think that strangers are dangerous. I believe that we should give strangers a break.