Apollo was the most beautiful of the gods during his youth. His hair was dark gold, his eyes stormy blue. He wore a tunic of golden panther skin, carried his golden bow, and wore a quiver of golden arrows. His chariot was beaten gold, its horses were white with golden manes and flame-colored eyes. He was the god of the sun always. Later he became patron of music, poetry, mathematics, and medicine.
And, later, when he was a mature god, he preached moderation. He bade his worshipers to look first into their own hearts and find there the beginnings of wisdom, and to conduct themselves prudently in all things. But in his youth, he did many cruel and wanton deeds. Several times he was almost expelled from the company of the gods by his father Zeus, whom he had angered with his wild folly.
As soon as he was given his bow and arrows he r
Celestial music echoed through the golden doors of Olympus as the feast had begun for the twelve gods. Ceres's young daughter Proserpina was brought to the House of Jupiter for the first time. After it was all over, Venus sat on her throne with her winged-daughter Cupid by her side. Venus was the goddess of love and beauty, self-born from the foam of the sea, and being what she is, she enters other tales, and such is the power of her magic. Those who even speak her name fall under her spell. Those who glimpse her white shoulders and catch the perfume of her golden hair become mad with passion. They lose their wits and begin to babble, and tell the same story in many ways. Unlike other Olympians, she is never distracted from her duties. Her work is her pleasure, her profession, her power. She was born from a tragedy. When Saturn butche
The air of the sleeping-chamber seemed to palpitate with the calmness until a roar of thunders erupted from the throne room. Venus rose from her bed with a start. She waved the palace maids away when she heard a knock on her golden door.The maids came back with a messenger."Father Jupiter has summoned all the gods to his court," the man said with a deep bow. "There is a judgment to be made, my lady."Venus's perfect brows furrowed. Jupiter normally passed his judgments by himself. If this trail demanded high attention by the council of the twelve gods, it meant no small case.Venus donned her favorite purple mantle of silk with golden embroidery and golden circlets. Once she reached the court, she found that all the gods were alread
In the palace chamber, the voices echoed in panic as maids ran hither and thither. There was a great stir in the belly of the Queen just before dawn. The high priestess lit a candle and went to a second and a third around the grand bed of the laboring mother. The midwife pulled out the washing stand so that she could wring the wet cloth in the basin and clean the sweats and tears off the Queen's brows. The maids poured some more lukewarm water from their jugs. After another hour passed, a piercing cry of a healthy baby released everyone from the gripping tension."How is the baby?" the King's voice came from behind the curtains. He had been pacing back and forth for hours. At last, the midwife reappeared with the newborn in her arms, and her face glowed with amazement."Your Majesty, you have the most beautiful baby girl!" the midwife s
Since divine honors were being diverted in an excessive way to the worship of a mortal maiden, it fiercely kindled the wrath of the true Venus. In a fit of anger, she could not control herself and tossed her head back with a deep growl like a lioness."Here am I, the ancient mother of the universe," she seethed, "the founding creator of the elements, the goddess that tends the entire world! Yet I am compelled to share the glory of my beauty with a mortal!"She paced her chamber of pearl and ivory with a look of irritation. Even the nectar in her golden cup tasted bitter in her mouth. Venus would not rest until she had done something terrible."My name which is highly respected in heaven is now degraded by the foulness of the earthling below."
Cupid did not tell her mother about her failure, and now she was trying to save the maiden of her poisoned heart in secret.The King and Queen were advised by the oracle to prepare a wedding and say farewell, or else the force of evil shall devour their kingdom. So amidst intense grief, they called upon their youngest daughter."My girl, we're in terrible grief," the King said. "It is said by the oracle that you're not meant for a mortal man. You're to be the bride of one who lives on the mountain, and we must bring you there, or else calamity shall strike land."Psyche listened to their mournful words and understood. She went to her sad parents and held them with sympathy."Don't beat those breasts so sacred to me," she said in tears
A torch burned in the air and floated in front of her. Three more torches whirled in to lead the way. Psyche followed the invisible handmaidens, and they walked her through a great hallway into a bath chamber.The chamber hosted an indoor pool, full of fragrant warm water. It was surrounded by golden pillars supporting the vaulted roof.Then the mortal princess felt gentle hands on her body. They began to untie her wedding dress. Other handmaidens tied back her flowing golden hair. Once she was naked, Psyche could hear a soft chorus of gasps. Her beauty astounded even those celestial beings.Standing in all her bare glory, Psyche felt her face redden, but as she could not see anyone, the embarrassment wasn't so bad. The princess stepped into the streaming waters of the sunken bath. She
Cupid had swiftly departed before dawn broke. After she made Psyche her wife on their marriage bed, the goddess knew she must not remain with the princess any longer, or her mother would grow suspicious.When Psyche awoke the next morning, she was alone. Her lips still tingled with kisses and below her belly, she could feel all sorts of pleasure lingering there. The princess remembered the sweet ecstasy that seized her whole being and a swoon of happiness darkened her mind. A blush crept onto her cheeks. Was she now a woman and no more a virgin?Indeed her wedding night was truly magical, but she wondered who had come and made love to her. Her eyes had sought in vain for her betrothed, but during those hours of passion and heat, all her senses scattered like leaves in the wind.The pri
Psyche awoke from her sleep and found herself alone in her bed as always. She got out of her chamber and took her fragrant bath. Afterward, she seated by herself in the adjoining alcove where the meal was set ready for her.The table was laden with excessive repast fit for the gods themselves, whole wheat bread out of the oven, topped with fortifying sesame paste and thick golden honey, layered pasta filled with goat cheese and savory meat with olive oil, and sliced Macedonian ham on a bed of chopped lettuce and baked tomatoes along with a jug of the creamiest milk. There was also a huge bowl of grapes and figs and freshly picked berries from the groves of Argos, and mountain tea from Crete.But this time, Psyche couldn't seem to find her appetite. She began her first meal of the day in silence. As her head was preoccupied with so many
Apollo was the most beautiful of the gods during his youth. His hair was dark gold, his eyes stormy blue. He wore a tunic of golden panther skin, carried his golden bow, and wore a quiver of golden arrows. His chariot was beaten gold, its horses were white with golden manes and flame-colored eyes. He was the god of the sun always. Later he became patron of music, poetry, mathematics, and medicine.And, later, when he was a mature god, he preached moderation. He bade his worshipers to look first into their own hearts and find there the beginnings of wisdom, and to conduct themselves prudently in all things. But in his youth, he did many cruel and wanton deeds. Several times he was almost expelled from the company of the gods by his father Zeus, whom he had angered with his wild folly.As soon as he was given his bow and arrows he r
After the Titan Lord Cronus was deposed, the three most powerful siblings drew dice to divide the empire. Zeus, the youngest, won — and chose the sky. Poseidon smiled to himself because the sky was empty, and he knew that the impulsive Zeus had chosen it because it looked so high.And now, he, Poseidon, could choose as he would have done if he had won. He chose the sea. He had always wanted it, it is the best place for adventures and secrets, and makes claim on the land. Hades, who was always unlucky, had to take the underworld. The earth was held as a commonwealth and left to the Olympian goddesses to manage. "Very well, my dear brother and sisters," Poseidon said. "I'm satisfied with the result and have no desire to discuss any further matter. Th
In the great throne room where the stars sailed over every corner of the world, a terrible roar struck like thunder.Cronus, the Titan lord of time, wielded his scythe and gave a mighty blow that ripped through the heart of his father Oranos, the Heaven."Your reign is now mine, Father," Cronus laughed as he stood towering over his dying sire. Oranos spit out golden blood regretted his love for this treacherous son, and thus the dying Oranos had prophesied saying, "You murder me now, and steal my throne, but one of your own sons will dethrone you, for crime begets crime."The sky trembled and the earth shook as if to give the terrible curse its effect. Cronus grimaced at the god's prophecy. He knew deep in his heart of heart that what his father said would come to pass. In a fit of rag
Indeed, Cupid had refused to shoot her arrows. People stopped falling in love with one another. There was no praise for Venus, her temples stood empty, her altars unadorned. No marriages were taking place and no new births. The world became grim and dreary in a day. Without love, all songs and laughter died. All work halted.Farmers did not plow their fields or pick their fruits. Hunters put down their bows and chased no game. Fishermen quit sailing their boats and simply drifted listlessly on the ocean. Even the fish had sunk sullenly to the very bottom of the sea. Everyone's heart was empty and deprived of joy.Venus woke up from her nap and looked from the Olympus. She was amazed to see that everything had changed. The goddess of love and beauty, found herself wasting in the great parching despair that came off the earth like a deser
The journey to the Underworld began at the crack of dawn. Advised by the mysterious voice, Psyche headed on foot towards Sparta, crossing the countryside, going through the wood to Taenarus. There she found the breathing-vent of the Underworld.The entrance to the lower world was a shadowy cave. The pathway snaked down into the gloomy land. Psyche took a deep breath and entered it. The gates were open, but she did not advance to that dark kingdom empty-handed. Dangling in her bag were barley-cakes baked in sweet wine.The soil of the land was black as soot and harsh with rough terrain. As she was told by the voice, she found a cart with a lame donkey carrying a load of logs along the path. The driver likewise lame turned and looked at her with hollow eyes. His face was long with pale and leathery skin. Psyche felt a chill rush down her
Sunlight peered through the small window as the chariot of Apollo ascended. Then the cell's door flung open, awaking Psyche from her troubled sleep. The priestesses came to escort her out as Venus had summoned her for another trial.They brought her to the grove flanked by the river. Its banks extended into the distance and its low-lying bushes dotted around the stream. There were sheep wandering and grazing unguarded, and their fleeces sprouted with the glory of pure gold.Venus stood on the hill in all her finery. When Psyche came, the goddess greeted her with a pretentious smile. And the mortal princess wondered what new misfortune awaited her. The goddess motioned for Psyche to stand by her side."Do you see the grove there?" she asked, pointing down with her glorious hand. "I orde
Psyche drew near the temple of Venus, endeavoring to fortify her mind while ruminating on her fate. The end was doubtful and perhaps fatal.At the door, she saw the goddess's priestesses, who did not have to be chaste, although they were required to be fairly attractive and shall often settle down with someone they believe to be their One True Love, to whom they shall be faithful unless a stronger True Love comes along.Before she could utter a word, the priestess named Consueto confronted her, crying in disgust."Most wicked of all women, have you at last begun to realize that you have upset Venus? Or are you still pretending to be unaware of the exhausting efforts we have endured in search of you?""Here I am now, priestess," Psyche
As Psyche wandered one day, she saw a lofty temple perched on the peak of a high mountain."Perhaps this is where I can perform my prayers to my beloved," she said to herself. Then she turned her steps thither. Her feet were utterly weary from her unremitting labors, but her hope and aspiration quickened them. She mounted the higher ridges with a stout heart and drew close to the sacred altar.There she saw ears of wheat in a heap, and others were woven into a garland, and ears of barley as well. There were sickles lying close by and a whole array of harvesting tools, but they were in a jumbled and neglected heap, thrown carelessly by workmen's hands in summer-time.Psyche carefully sorted them out and ordered them in separate piles, no doubt she reflected that she should not neglect t
The poor princess had fainted there on the ground. When she recovered her senses, she felt the rough patch of grass beneath her soft form. Then she rose and stared around her again. Psyche was still alone and everything felt like a horrible dream. But then again, she did not know which one was a true dream. Did she dream about finding a beautiful home and a divine lover in the first place?Yet the ache in her chest was so real. Her eyes hurt from salty hot tears, and she remembered what she had done. The grief and loss struck her with a heavy blow once again. It wasn't a dream but her current reality. Her dearest deserted her, and it was all her fault. Psyche let out a howl of despair, blaming herself for her haste and naivety.Then wild with sorrows, the poor princess decided to set out and follow her lover into the wood. In her random