April 16: Spring Month

Most myths come to us in different versions, so allow me my own of the story of Prokne and Philomela. Prokne was married to king Tereus of Thrakia, but felt so homesick that she asked for her sister Philomela to join her. Tereus had seen Philomela’s portrait, and wanted her for himself. After he had promised to look after her “as a father”, he took advantage of poor Philomela and locked her up in a cabin in the woods. He couldn’t stand her reproaches and cries, so he cut away her tongue. Philomela still managed to weave a cloth, telling her story, and to send it to her sister, who was heartbroken by the betrayal of her trust. The sisters confronted Tereus, and according to Ovid, Prokne kills her own son in revenge, which says more about Ovid, than about Prokne. At that point, the gods intervened, changing Tereus into a hawk, ruthless bird of prey. Prokne transformed into a swallow, and the mute Philomela became a nightingale. Which explains – according to mythology – why a female nightingale has no joyous song to sing.

Philomela, Procne and Itys, wine cup, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France

Prokne mit Kasten, Südl Gartenseite Neues Palais Sanssouci, Potsdam, Germany