Showing posts with label river Styx. Show all posts
Showing posts with label river Styx. Show all posts

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Eros.

 Eros (Ἔρως) was a god of love in ancient Greece. His father was Hermes (Ἑρμῆς) or Zephyrus (Ζέφυρος). His mother was Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. Or Iris (Ἶρις), goddess of the rainbow. Also, Eros had several siblings: Gaia (Γαῖα), Nyx (Νῠ́ξ), Erebus (Ἔρεβος,), and etc.

His symbols were bow and arrows. Eros was known as Aphrodite's assistant.

Eros looks like a young man with two wings on the back. He helped people to find their true love.

In Greek mythology there are many different legends about this god. One of them is a love story. This myth about Eros and Psyche.

The young Psyche was very beautiful. So, everyone forgot about Aphrodite. She became evil. Aphrodite wanted to hurt her.

Psyche became unhappy. Because Aphrodite gave her difficult tasks. Psyche should have gotten the Golden Fleece, she had to bring Persephone's box from the underworld, and she had to get water from the river Styx (Στύξ). Psyche did it all with the help from others.

Later Eros and Psyche got married. There are many versions of their story. 

He had relations with other gods and goddesses, such as: Chaos (χάος,), Themis (Θέμις), Ares (Ἄρης,), Hephaestus (Ἥφαιστος), Zeus (Ζεύς), Cronus (Κρόνος), and etc.

There are different paintings and statues of Eros. 



Friday, September 18, 2020

Orpheus and Eurydice.

 Orpheus (Ὀρφεύς) was a singer. His parents were Apollo and Calliope. His symbol was a lyre. Orpheus played on this musical instrument. His music was very beautiful.

When Orpheus was a young man, he took part in the campaign for the Golden Fleece. He was with Jason and the Argonauts.

Eurydice (Εὐρυδίκη) was a forest nymph or dryad. She liked music of lyre which played by Orpheus. Later they understood that loved each other. 

Orpheus and Eurydice (Ὀρφεύς καί Εὐρυδίκη) got married. They became happy. But unfortunately it didn't last long. Eurydice was bitten by a snake in the forest. She died.

Her husband Orpheus was very sad about it. He decided to return Eurydice to this world.

Orpheus went to the underworld. Eurydice's husband sailed on the river Styx. He met Cerberus (Κέρβερος), dog with three heads. Also, Orpheus played on his lyre for Hades (ᾍδης) and his wife Persephone (Περσεφόνη).

So, he was able to take Eurydice. But Orpheus shouldn't look at her. She must go behind him. They went together.

Once Orpheus broke down and looked at his wife. Eurydice was left in the underworld forever.

Orpheus had a big griefed. He died.

This legend was popular in ancient Greece. There are many paintings and statues about these characters.