The Magical Love Stories in the Ancient Greek Mythology

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Greek mythology has been my favorite topic since junior high school. I used to memorize every little detail in the lives of the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses by heart. In fact, it had veered my life a lot, especially when I had learned the different love stories in Greek Mythology.

Here are some of the love stories:

Cupid and Psyche

Aphrodite was jealous of Psyche's beauty, so she sent her son Eros to shoot her with one of his arrows and cause her to fall in love with the ugliest many in the world. Eros buggered up, and as he beheld her sleeping form he was so stunned by her beauty that he pricked himself on one of his own arrows and fell deeply in love.

Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus was about to marry Eurydice but a poisinous snake bit her which sent her to the Underworld. Orpheus went down to the Underworld to free Eurydice. He got down to the Underworld with his charming music. When he told Hades what he wanted Hades agreed to return her he was told that he was not to look back at her until he returned out of the Underworld. Orpheus was almost out but he looked behind him to make sure Hades kept his promise and to make sure Eurydice was behind him but when he did Eurydice was returned to the Underworld and Orpheus died of a broken heart.

 

 

Pygmalion and Galatea

In Greek and Roman mythology, Pygmalion was a sculptor who falls in love with a statue he has made. He offers the statue presents and eventually prays to Venus. She takes pity on him and brings the statue to life. He names her Galatea. They marry and have a son, Paphos. 

 

Pyramus and Thisbe

Pyramus and Thisbe is the story of two lovers in the city of Babylon who occupy connected houses/walls, forbidden by their parents to be wed, because of their parents' rivalry. Through a crack in one of the walls, they whisper their love for each other. They arrange to meet near Ninus' tomb under a mulberry tree and state their feelings for each other. Thisbe arrives first, but upon seeing a lioness with a mouth bloody from a recent kill, she flees, leaving behind her veils. When Pyramus arrives he is horrified at the sight of Thisbe's veil, assuming that a fierce beast had killed her. Pyramus kills himself, falling on his sword in proper Roman fashion, and in turn splashing blood on the white mulberry leaves. Pyramus' blood stains the white mulberry fruits, turning them dark. Thisbe returns, eager to tell Pyramus what had happened to her, but she finds Pyramus' dead body under the shade of the mulberry tree. Thisbe, after a brief period of mourning, stabs herself with the same sword. In the end, the gods listen to Thisbe's lament, and forever change the colour of the mulberry fruits into the stained colour to honour the forbidden love.

 

 

Based on the four love stories, I can say that ancient people were really slaves of love. Unlike today, many relationships dies out easily because of materialistic/ practical reasons but in old days, when people were in love, the love was the only thing that mattered.