Atalanta And The Golden Apples

Atalanta, the daughter of the king of Boeotia, tested her suitors’ worthiness by challenging them to a foot race. If they won, they had a crown; if they lost, they were executed. And they always lost to the swift footed beauty.

Young Hippomenes, great grandson of Neptune, used another avenue to success. He called upon Venus, the goddess of beauty, to instruct him in winning the elusive Atalanta. She gave him three golden apples to place along the designated path. These, she said, would tempt Atalanta to stray from the race to collect them, thus slowing her down.

All transpired as Venus had said, except that even with her diversion from the course, Atalanta was about to win the race. Intrigued now, however, by her suitor’s lineage, beauty and resourcefulness, she succumbed to the temptation of the last golden apple and happily allowed Hippomenes to win the race.

The Transformation Of Byblis

The princess Byblis fell passionately in love with her brother, a forbidden union. Her pursuit was so hot that the hapless brother fled his home and founded a city elsewhere.

Byblis was bereft. Senselessly she wandered, telling her story to all who would listen, reviling the Fates, praying to Bacchus.

At last she fell, able to go no further. There she tore at the earth and wept herself dry until the Naiads, taking pity, cooled her with more liquid in her veins.

Her endless tears finally became a fountain and a stream, and she melted into the earth, nothing but pure water.

Hecuba Contemplates
The Death Of Her Son

As queen to Priam, king of Troy, Hecuba was stripped of her world. She watched in horror as her children were slain, one by one, in the Trojan War, a war caused by her son Paris who defiled the sanctity of guest and host and fled Greece with Menelaus’ wife, Helen.

Polydorus, the one son Hecuba thought she had sent to safety, was found dead floating in water, victim of his greedy host, the Thracian king Polymestor. Hecuba sought out Polymestor and ripped out his eyes tearing apart his head.

To this day the spot where she took Thracian spears for this deed of revenge is called The Dog, for it is said if you listen carefully you will still hear her howls of grief and contempt.