Ceyx and Alcyone

Alcyone begged her husband to stay home. She knew the dangerous winds of the sea posed a great threat to her husband's life. Being the daughter of the king of the winds, she had grown up seeing how many ships didn't stand a chance against them. But Ceyx was determined to get to the oracle. So, Alcyone pleaded to go with him, so they wouldn't have to be apart. Ceyx obviously did not allow her to accompany him on his voyage across the sea because her wanted her to stay out of harm's way.

The gods were moved by the tragedy. They turned the husband and wife into birds, so that they could live together forever.

Alcyone turned into a gannet bird.

Every winter, before and after the winter solstice, there are two weeks where the sea is very calm. No winds or storms. Aeolus is making the water perfect for his daughter, the gannet bird, to brood over her nest on the shore, where she found her husband's body. Ceyx, the kingfisher, is near his wife. These are called the Halycon days.

Ceyx turned into a kingfisher.

Morpheus sent Alcyone a dream. The god took the form of Ceyx in this dream. He told the woman that he had drowned and that he wasn't coming back.

One night while Ceyx was at sea, Zeus caused a storm to brew up and struck the ship with a lightning bolt. Everyone died, but Ceyx was joyful as he passed. He knew Alcyone was safe.

As he died, he asked Poseidon, the god of the sea, to make sure his body was found on the shore and returned to his wife. At the same time, Alcyone was praying to Hera, goddess of marriage, that her husband would have a safe trip.

Knowing of Ceyx's fate, Hera had pity on Alcyone and wanted her to know that it was too late.

Hera asked Hypnos, the god of sleep and comfort, to tell Alcyone. Hypnos then told Morpheus, god of dreams, to break the news to the widow.

She woke up crying and had the thought that if Ceyx was really gone, she would meet him. She went out to the shore of the sea threw herself in the water, attempting to drown herself. But before she died, she saw her husband's body floating up to shore.

Zeus became extremely angry with these mortals for comparing themselves to the gods, and decided to punish them.

Ceyx was in the process of mourning over the death of his brother, Daedalion.

He decided he needed to consult the oracle of Apollo at Carlos.

Zeus saw this as his opportunity to punish Ceyx for daring to compare himself to the gods.

• Ceyx was the son of Eosphorus, the morning star. He was the king of Thessaly.

• Alcyone was the daughter of Aeolus, god of the winds.

• They were known by the gods for their great love for each other.

• In fact, they were so fond of each other that they jokingly called each other Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the gods.

Ceyx and Alcyone

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Alcyone/alcyone.html

www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/the-myth-of-halcyon-the-halcyon-days/

www/dl.ket.org/latin/mythology/3fables/love/ceyx.htm