3 of the Most Popular Stories from Greek Mythology
When did you read the tales from Greek Mythology last time? I think it was a long time ago. So, I highly recommend you to buy the collection of the greek myths and read it thoroughly because there are a lot of cautionary tales and it is really interesting to trace the way of the explaining of a natural world by the people of that time. That’s why I have chosen 3 my the most favourite tales and now I’m going to tell you about them.
Daedalus and Icarus
Daedalus is a brilliant inventor but unfortunately, he angers King Minos, the ruler of the island Crete, and he has to hightail it out of there. Desperate to flee the island, Daedalus uses wax to build some wings for himself and his son Icarus. Daedalus warns his son to fly at a middle height because the seawater will dampen the wings and the sun will melt them.
Icarus having so much fun flying that he forgets the warning and flies too close to the sun. His wings melt, and Icarus plummets into the sea and drowns. Daedalus is devastated by his son’s death. He flies on to Sicily, where he mourns Icarus and builds a temple in honor of the god Apollo.
Apollo and Daphne
Daphne was a Naiad Nymph in Greek Mythology, the daughter of a river god. She was famous for being incredibly beautiful and for catching the eye of god Apollo. However, Daphne was determined to remain unmarried and untouched by a man for the rest of her life. According to Greek Mythology, Apollo had been mocking the God of Love, Eros. In retaliation, Eros fired two arrows: a golden arrow that struck Apollo and made him madly in love with Daphne, and a lead arrow that made Daphne hate Apollo. Under the spell of the arrow, Apollo chased Daphne, but she rejected him. Daphne turned to the river god, Peneus, and asked him to free her from Apollo. Peneus used metamorphosis to turn Daphne into a laurel tree. After Daphne had been transformed into a laurel, Apollo made the plant sacred and vowed to always wear it as clothing. Thus, in a way, Daphne stayed with Apollo forever.
Narcissus and Echo
Echo is a wood Nymph, cursed by Hera to not be able to speak properly, but rather repeat the last words addressed to her. One day, she is wandering around the mountains and she sees a handsome young man that no one could resist his charm, Narcissus. Echo falls in love with Narcissus, but Narcissus isn’t into it. Echo proceeds to pine over Narcissus until her body withers away and only her voice is left. Meanwhile, Narcissus stops for a drink at a small pond. When Narcissus sees his reflection in the water of the pool he falls hopelessly in love with himself. Unable to capture his reflection, Narcissus stays by the pond until he starves to death.
Thank you for reading! Let me know, if you want me to continue telling about the greek mythology.
