Alcyone
Alcyone was the daughter of Aeolus, ruler of the winds, and she married Ceyx, the son of the Morning Star. They were very happily married but angered Zeus as Alcyone used "Zeus" as a nickname for her husband whilst Ceyx called Alcyone "Hera". Zeus put an end to this lack of respect by hurling a thunderbolt at Ceyx's ship. Ceyx's ghost appeared to his wife to tell her of his fate and Alcyone, overcome by grief, drowned herself. The gods then took pity on the couple and changed them into kingfishers and Aeolus would calm the winds for seven days around the winter solstice to allow his daughter to lay her eggs on the sea. Halcyon days!
posted by Whispering Walls at 10:36 am
5 Comments:
WW, I'll remember that when I get blown off the cliffs in Cornwall around the winter solstice.
The moral is not to get on the wrong side of Zeus.
Which seven days was that then?
Hi ED & KL - the ancients believed that the seas were calm from 18-24 December. Perhaps they are in Greece?
Very wise, Ellee
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