Greek Myths XS: Philemon and Baukis

The most beautiful ancient lovestory must be the one of Philemon and Baukis. This myth is unique, because they are neither young nor beautiful, neither rich nor of divine descent. Just two ordinary people living an ordinary life. Most part of it lays behind them, but they manage, supporting and comforting each other. Now, they’re surrounded by arrogant and selfish people, and one day, supreme god Zeus takes notice. He decides to an incognito visit, to check if his golden rule of “xenia” (hospitality) is followed. He’s been sent away by all, except by Philemon and Baukis. In a rage, Zeus floods the region, and grants the elderly couple a favour. What they ask, is to grow old and die together. So it happens, and at the end of their lives, they transform into trees, with two sturdy trunks and one entangled canopy. What’s intruiging about this tale, is what these two people must have lived through, to be so devoted to one another. So intruiging, that I decided to “fill in their lives”. Read the whole story in “Aphrodite’s Trees”!

Philemon and Baucis, Pieter Paul Rubens (Workshop), Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Austria

Philemon and Baucis, Adam Elsheimer, Gemäldegalerie Dresden, Germany