June
June Birthstone: Pearl
"Mother Of Pearl"
The Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, was born from the foam of the sea. As she rose from the ocean, glistening drops of water slid from her body, and transformed into lustrous pearls. In antiquity, pearls were coveted, especially by young brides, as they would protect them from disappointment and tears. In the crown of a king, they stood for strength and power, and philosophers looked for “pearls of wisdom”. The demand in Rome was even higher than in Greece, and as a result, they were extremely valuable. A Roman general once financed his military campaign by selling just one of his mother’s earrings. And when Cleopatra promised Marc Anthony the most expensive diner ever, she dissolved an earring in vinegar and served it as an appetizer. Pearls are classified according to luster, complexion, shape, colour and size. But that’s all about appearance. Pearls are useful too, albeit that their specific healing power – avoiding belly bloat – comes accross as somewhat trivial. As the birthstone of June, they will connect you to your inner wisdom, and to a divine feminine energy, enhancing spirituality and focus. Back to June overview.
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
"Double Energy"
Supreme god Zeus fathered many children, but when the ancient Greeks mentioned “Zeus’ boys” (or “Dioskouroi”), they only referred to Castor and Pollux, princes of Sparta. A bit odd, because only one of the twins, Pollux, was in fact Zeus’ son, while Castor was fathered by the king. Pollux, being immortal, dragged his brother into all kinds of reckless adventures, like kidnapping the wives of their nephews. It had to go wrong and it did, when Castor got shot. Pollux then offered to share his immortality, at the cost of spending half of the year in the underworld. Zeus agreed, and depicted them both at the night sky, as the constellation Gemini. Like the two brothers, a Gemini has energy to spare. They are witty, playful and curious, juggling a variety of hobbies and careers. They adapt to every situation, and are always ready – and very willing - to try something new. Their versatility could sometimes come across as nonchalance. But their spontaneity and optimism make them great traveling partners – and/or life companions. Back to June overview.
June 01: World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day
"Ego And Echo"
When you look at the news, we seem to live in an era of populists and narcissists. These kind of people make life hard, not only for others, but also for themselves. As is illustrated by the myth of Narkissos. On one of his hunting trips, he attracted the attention of a mountain nymph, called Echo. Sadly, she had been punished by Hera for assisting Zeus in one of his escapades. Hera took away her ability to talk, and Echo could only repeat the last words spoken to her. So; she couldn’t express her love to Narkissos, and instead of making an effort to understand or comfort her, he brutally pushed her away. We all know how hard it is to love a narcissist… Later, he met someone that he could truly love, when he spotted his own face in the water of a pond. Not able to eat or drink, or even take his eyes away form himself, he faded away and died. The only thing that lasts from him, is the narciss flower. As for Echo, being immortal, she couldn’t die from her broken heart, but she slowly faded away and turned into rock and stone. What lasts from her until today, is her voice, still repeating the last words spoken to her. Back to June overview.
June 02: Pride Month
"For The Very First Time"
The ancient Greeks had no hierarchy concerning love, but they did like some chronology where possible. For everything, there must have been a first time, and the myth of origin for gay love, was about the Thracian musician Thamyris. He became enamoured with the radiant Hyakinthos, but it wasn’t reciprocated, because the competition was the god Apollo himself. Thamyris was no match for Apollo’s charm, wit or talent, but it didn’t stop him from trying. Hoping to impress, he even challenged the muses to a singing contest. And in his arrogance, he went so far as to claim as his prize a night with every single one of them. Don’t ask me why, as everyone knew he wasn’t even interested in women. Anyway, his attempt failed miserably, and Hyakinthos joined Apollo in mocking him. The muses weren’t amused at all, and took away his musical talent – or blinded him, depending on which version of mythology you choose to believe. But on this, all versions agree: Thamyris was the first male to have loved another male.
June 03: Pride Month
"Credit Where Credit's Due"
It’s quite common in Greek mythology for some horrific monster to terrorise a region or a city for an unclear reason. It happened to Thespia, where a giant snake caused havoc. The desperate inhabitants turned to Zeus, but he seemed otherwise engaged. He could have struck it with lightning, instructed one of his son-heroes to fight it, or maybe shapeshift into an attractive reptile himself and calm it down. He did nothing of the sort. He nonchalantly announced the yearly sacrifice of a youth should keep the serpent satisfied. There’s no account of how many youngsters died, but the ordeal ended when a certain Kleostratos was picked. He was the longtime companion of Menestratos, who couldn’t stand the idea of being left behind. So, he created a bronze armour with a fish-hook sticking up on each plate, and took his friend’s place. The monster swallowed him and died in the process, to the endless gratitude of Kleostratos and the people of Thespia. They built a temple and held a yearly festival. To honour Menestratos? No. To honour Zeus. Back to June overview.
June 04: International Day Of Children Victim Of Aggression
"Crimes Of Passion"
Being a single parent, is as hard for people nowadays, as it was for the gods in ancient Greece. Especially love goddess Aphrodite had her hands full with rebellious little Eros, god of passion. The ancient writer Apollonius makes her complain: “To me he pays no heed, but he constantly provokes and disobeys me. I have it in mind to break his bow and arrows right before his eyes!” What was Passion’s crime? In a fit of youthful recklessness, he had hit Aphrodite’s lover, war god Ares (also his father) with one of his magical arrows. Ares’ sudden interest in the neighbour’s wife had driven Aphrodite mad. She had had to use every trick in the book to win him back, and she was furious about the humiliation. She not only threatened to ruin Eros’ precious gear, but also to discipline him with her slipper. The ancients assumed that she didn’t go through with it, as she was otherwise known as a loving mum. Who could lose her patience, but not her self control. And who knew, as we all do, that aggression is always a sign of weakness. Back to June overview.
June 05: World Environment Day
"Crushed"
The ancient earth goddess Gaia suffered immensely, when the Olympian gods took over power. They battled her titan- and giant-children, sparing not one, and they didn’t stop there. They also created the human race, that trampled all over her and devastated her natural beauty. She tried to diminish their numbers by creating offspring to go after them, but her powers shrunk, and despite her sacrifices, mankind kept on growing. As did their arrogance and negligence. In an ultimate attempt, she sent Antaios, her son with Poseidon. He wrestled everyone he met, and as Gaia empowered him, he was invincible. As long as he kept his feet on the ground, she could send strength and determination through his body, and slowly but surely, the number of humans came down. But Zeus didn’t back down. He instructed his son, Herakles, to step in. Herakles lifted the giant in the air, so that he lost contact with his mother, and crushed him. Which well may be the first environmental disaster in history. Back to June overview.
June 06: D-Day
"Ancient Malware"
What a sight it must have been… After ten years of siege, the Trojan coast was clear, the war was over, and the Greek ships had sailed away! And what did they leave behind? A magnificent piece of craftsmanship, as large as a house. An offering? A tribute? For their patron gods, maybe? These Greeks, still full of hubris, even in defeat. If anyone deserved a tribute, wouldnt it be the Trojan people, who endured the siege with resilience and courage? Why not make it an offering for them, and bring it inside the city walls? The seer Laokoon, he knew why not. He yelled, he cried, he begged them to put it on fire, to destroy it! But Athene sent a pair of horrifying snakes, that unalived him. The princess Kassandra, she warned them too. In vain, as was her curse. It was a sublime monument, it deserved a place on the square! That night, amidst Trojan celebrations, Greek warriors jumped out of the statue, and opened the gates. The Greek ships came sailing back, and their army marched in. What couldn’t be achieved in ten years of battle, was done in one night, by a giant piece of Greek malware. Rather inaccurately called a Trojan horse. Back to June overview.
June 07: World Food Safety Day
"Blind Tasting"
The Thrakian king Phineus had the gift of prophecy, and people came from far and wide to consult him. Before long, his popularity started to irritate the gods. What people saw as the benevolent sharing wisdom, the gods saw as demonstrations of hubris, and their revenge was swift and cruel. Not only was Phineus struck with blindness, every time he put food on the table, it was spoiled or stolen by the Harpies, evil creatures with the head of a woman and the body of a bird. Fortunately, being a seer, he knew that his imposed period of lent would come to an end with the arrival of Jason and his Argonauts, on their way to retrieve the golden fleece. The Boread twins, winged sons of the North wind, chased the harpies away, but his eyesight couldn’t be restored. Phineus stated he didn’t mind never seeing the sun again, as long as he could see the future. And again his boldness angered the gods. Sun god Helios turned him into a mole, still hiding from the light today. Back to June overview.
June 08: World Ocean Day
"The Sirens' Song"
Nowadays, the terms mermaid and siren are used interchangeably, but not so in ancient times. The Sirens used to be the playmates of young Persephone. When she went missing, her mother fitted the girls with wings, to go and find her. They never did, and when they learned that Persephone had been abducted by Hades, her siren-friends took revenge on all men. They waited at the shore for passing ships, lured the sailors in with their singing and caused a shipwreck. Only two men ever heard them and survived it: the bard Orpheus, who saved his mates by crowding the sirens out, and Odysseus, tied up to the shipmast, while the crew had put wax in their ears. And what about mermaids then? Well, there are some fishy characters in Greek mythology. Meet Eurynome, mermaid. She didn’t sing, but moved graciously through the water, and passed on her elegance to her children, the Charites. And next, meet Triton, merman. Not a singer either, but a conch blower. So to recap: a mermaid swam and didn’t sing, while a siren flew, and did. Back to June overview.
June 09: Pride Month
"Loved And Lost"
Iphitos was a young prince, who had joined the Argonaut-expedition, only to meet his all time hero and the man of his dreams: Herakles. It had been love from a distance though, since Herakles hadn’t even noticed him. It didn’t deter Iphitos, who never gave up hope. Even years later, when Herakles came to visit, his love was still as strong. Sadly, Herakles didn’t come for him, but for his sister, whose hand in marriage was the prize of an archery competition. He won of course, but didn’t get a wife, because the king was afraid the marriage would be as disastrous as his first one. Loyal as always, Iphitos pleaded for him, in vain. And when Herakles was falsely accused of stealing cattle, Iphitos helped looking for the real thief. It’s at that moment that Herakles started to realise what real love looked like, and finally, they became an item. Which infuriated a jealous Hera. Under her spell, Herakles turned against his most faithful companion. Still, in his dying moments, Iphitos smiled: “Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.” Back to June overview.
June 10: World Anxiety Awareness Day
"Phobophobia"
In ancient Athens, the agora, or market square, was the center of social life, economic activity and political decision making. So you’d better not suffer from agoraphobia. In today’s stressful times, the list of scary things has grown longer and longer. Common fears include arachnophobia (for spiders), claustrophobia (for small spaces), arithmophobia (for numbers, or maths in general), and even decidophobia (when having to choose between two parking spaces). Now “phobia” is derived from the Greek god Phobos (Panic), son of war god Ares and love goddess Aphrodite. For the Greeks, masters in concretising abstract concepts, “panic” would indeed be the result of horrific warfare mixed with genuine feelings. In Phobos’ honour, we distinguish weird and wonderful conditions, like omphalophobia (for belly buttons), xanthophobia (for the colour yellow), globophobia (for balloons), and hippopotamonstroses-quippedaliophobia (for long words). And in case you wondered, phobophobia is also on the list. Back to June overview.
June 11: World Lynx Day
"The Lynx Myth"
Young Triptolemos was a particular favourite of harvest goddess Demeter. She had met the boy when she was looking for her missing daughter. He had been ill, and her aching mother’s heart had forced her to nurse him back to health. She then had introduced him to her secret “Eleusinian mysteries”, and sent him out to teach about sowing and growing. He’d been a welcome guest in most regions, but less so in far away Skythia. Skythians were known for two things: their battle skills (which is why in Athens, enslaved “Skythian archers” served as a police force), and their exquisite gold smithing. Triptolemos’ arrival, in a winged, golden chariot, immediately sparked jealousy, and the king even plotted to unalive the boy in his sleep, to steal his wheels. A furious Demeter transformed him into a ferocious lynx. She then sent Triptolemos on his way, leaving Skythia to its own devices, and that’s why – in the eyes of the Greeks - the Skythians would never reach a decent level of civilisation, and “Skythian” was an insult on its own. Back to June overview.
June 12: World Day Against Child Labour
"Old Before Their Age"
Nowadays, most agree that no child should bear responsibilities above its age. The ancient Greeks didn’t have such reservations, as is illustrated by the myth of Kallirhoë. She had her eyes set on the magnificent, but cursed, necklace of her mother in law. It had been passed down through the generations, since it had belonged to the Theban queen Harmonia. And it had caused misery ever since. Kallirhoë knew, but didn’t care. She blackmailed her husband – no need explaining how – to get it. And as could be foreseen, it cost him his life. Instead of taking the blame, Kallirhoë then pleaded with Zeus to make her boys grow up fast, to revenge their father (and get the necklace). When even a mother doesn’t care about her children’s well being, why should Zeus? So he obliged, and the boys became men overnight. They did take revenge, and retrieved the necklace, but instead of taking it to their mum, they dedicated it to a temple at Delphi. We can all agree that made them the adults in the room. Back to June overview.
June 13: Pride Month
"Crossdressing"
Nowadays, most agree that no child should bear responsibilities above its age. The ancient Greeks didn’t have such reservations, as is illustrated by the myth of Kallirhoë. She had her eyes set on the magnificent, but cursed, necklace of her mother in law. It had been passed down through the generations, since it had belonged to the Theban queen Harmonia. And it had caused misery ever since. Kallirhoë knew, but didn’t care. She blackmailed her husband – no need explaining how – to get it. And as could be foreseen, it cost him his life. Instead of taking the blame, Kallirhoë then pleaded with Zeus to make her boys grow up fast, to revenge their father (and get the necklace). When even a mother doesn’t care about her children’s well being, why should Zeus? So he obliged, and the boys became men overnight. They did take revenge, and retrieved the necklace, but instead of taking it to their mum, they dedicated it to a temple at Delphi. We can all agree that made them the adults in the room. Back to June overview.
June 14: Pride Month
"(S)He"
When little Iphis came into the world, it should not have been for long, because her father had decided he didn’t have the means to raise a girl. But in a nightly vision, the mother had been encouraged by the goddess Isis, to disguise the baby as a boy and raise it as such. It had worked too. Iphis had managed to convince everyone, including themselves, that they could be both. But when the time came to marry, desperation set in. Iphis’ father had chosen pretty Ianthe as a bride, which should have made Iphis really happy, as they had been in love with her for as long as they could remember. But Ianthe, like everyone else, only knew Iphis as a boy. She was only too grateful for the strong connection between them, and had never put it into question. So Iphis’ mother turned to Isis again, and the goddess intervened quite drastically. She switched Iphis from a girl to a boy, and the marriage could go on as planned. We can only guess how Iphis felt about this, but the myths like to emphasize: Isis’ solution was “to everyone’s satisfaction”. Back to June overview.
June 15: International Working Animal Day
"Dr. Dolittle"
The antique version of Dr. Dolittle was a prophet called Melampous. Ever since a snake had licked his ears, he could talk to animals. This ability came in handy when he had to cure a little prince, suffering from an anxiety disorder. Vultures told Melampous they had witnessed the boy getting frightened by the big knife used for a sacrifice. His father had tossed the knife away, but injured a tree nymph in the process. She had cursed the boy, but Melampous managed to appease her. And when the so-called “daughters of Proitos” needed healing from their epilepsy (caused by an offended Dionysos), an unspecified animal advised him to use hellebore. Later in life, he got kidnapped. In his cell, he overheard some termites considering the possibility that the building could collapse. Thanks to his warning, there were no victims, and he was respectfully released. His talent and smart negotiating literally gained him a king’s ransom and a princess bride, as did his brother. I suspect the family enjoyed many a cosy hour sharing gossip from the animal kingdom. Back to June overview.
June 16: Pride Month
"Guilty Pleasure"
The seer Teiresias lived for seven generations, and seven years of those, he spent in female form. No Greek man would voluntarily undergo such a transformation, so what happened? It was Hera who had cursed him, for no other reason than that he had witnessed two snakes “at it”, and had hit them with his stick. (Some myths state that the snakes were put on the caduceus, Hermes’ staff.) After Hera had turned him into a woman, for seven years, she experienced all that a woman endures, including the pain of giving birth. No wonder he was only too relieved to finally regain his masculinity. Yet, one aspect of being a woman he had really enjoyed… Therefore, when supreme gods Zeus and Hera had a dispute over who experiences more delight at the physical side of love, he recalled his female years. “Of ten parts a man enjoys only one, but a woman enjoys the full ten parts in her heart.” A chuckling Zeus congratulated him, but a displeased Hera took away his eyesight. And the last word on the matter is still not spoken. Back to June overview.
June 17: World Day To Combat Desertification And Drought
"A Swan's Song"
Climate change and human interference are seen as the major causes of desertification. The ancient Greeks concretised this in the tale of young Phaiton. In a fit of youthful arrogance, he had gone for a joyride with the sun chariot of his father Helios. The sun cart crashed somewhere in North Africa, scorching the land and the people who lived there. Phaiton himself tumbled into the Eridanos river. His best friend Kyknos witnessed the disaster and burst into lamentation. His cries became his swan’s song… as “plumes concealed his hair, a slender neck extended from his breast… Wings grew from his sides, and from his mouth was made a blunted beak.” Kyknos’ transformation went unnoticed and his mother Hyrie would look for him for weeks. (In the end, she melted away in tears, and these formed lake Hyria, now Lysimachia, in Western Greece.) Surrounded by fire, the swan Kyknos (hence “Cygne” in French), dove into the river where his friend drowned, and his PTSD explains why a swan will never stray far from the water’s edge. Back to June overview.
June 20: World Refugee Day
"Shell Shocked"
The famous architect Daidalos, had been held as a prisoner by the Cretan king Minos. Together with his son Ikaros, he fled his prison with self-crafted wings. Ikaros didn’t make it to safety, but Daidalos did, and under a false name, found refuge with king Kokalos in Sicily. A vengeful Minos put out the word that he was handing out a prize for the man who could pull a string through a conch shell. Not knowing it was a scam, Kokalos asked his clever guest to solve the puzzle. Daidalos pierced a hole in the tip of the shell, smeared it with honey and tied the thread around an ant, which wound its way through the spirals of the empty shell, taking the thread with it. To king Kokalos dismay, king Minos immediately showed up, and demanded Daidalos’ extradition. So Kokalos politely suggested Minos to take a relaxing bath first. Especially for this occasion, Daidalos had invented running hot water. When king Minos opened the tap, the bath filled so quickly he was boiled alive. And thrown away with the bathwater, I suspect. Back to June overview.
June 21: World Music Day
"Messing With The Muses"
As a lady in ancient Greece, you weren’t supposed to excel in anything. Yet nobody questioned the talent of the Muses, patronesses of arts and science (hence “music”). They were the daughters of Zeus and his fifth wife, Mnemosyne, goddess of memory (hence “amnesia”). Polyhymnia inspired hymn writers, Terpsichore lead the dance, Melpomene specialised in tragedy and Thalia in comedy. Kalliope provided epos-material, Euterpe wrote moving poetry, and Erato ventured into the “erotic” genre. Klio helped historians to separate the real from the alternative facts, and Ourania knew the mysteries of the universe. Together with the winged horse Pegasos, they lived on Mount Helikon, that grew higher when they sang and danced together. Its grass was so sweet, that snakes lost their poisonous bite, and there were three inspiring springs. But you shouldn’t get too inspired… When the Pierid-sisters demonstrated some talent of their own, they were changed into birds. Not nightingales or song trushes, but magpies. Nobody messes with the Muses. Back to June overview.
June 22: Pride Month
"Saphic Spice"
appho’s name, and the isle of Lesbos where she lived, have become synonymous with female to female love. But her verses have to be seen in a bigger context, where she speaks for the great women in Greek mythology: Phaidra, Aphrodite, Helen, Demeter,… “The Moon is set. And the Pleiades. It’s the middle of the night. Time passes. But I sleep alone…” It’s a shame that only 650 from the roughly 10 000 verses survive, because her feminine perspective could have changed our view on the big stories. All the more since, even as she lived in a patriarchal structure, her fresh approach was appreciated by her contemporaries. She was held in such high esteem that she was referred to as “the tenth Muse”, or just “the Poetess”, and the terms “lesbian” or “saphic” only meant talented or brilliant. The other connotation dates from the 19th century. For the ancient Greeks, whether she felt attracted to men or women, was of no importance, as they rarely used labels to rank love. Back to June overview.
June 24: World History Day
"Palladium"
The chemical element Palladium is trendy, both in high-tech applications and in the fantasy world of movies. The name refers to the most valuable statue of antiquity: the “palladion” in Troy, a wooden image of patron goddess Pallas Athena. (She added the name Pallas to her own as an hommage to the only love of her life, her childhood girlfriend.) The palladion had fallen from the sky, and as long as it was safely kept in the citadel, Troy would stand strong. The city’s fate was sealed when the Greek heroes Odysseus and Diomedes stole it. It’s possible however, that they only took a reproduction, and that the Trojan prince Aeneas took the real statue to Italy. copy, but according to some myths, they only took a reproduction. He would found a new Troy, which would later lead to the foundation of Rome. The palladion was kept there for centuries, under the vigilant care of the Vestal virgins. In a world that was transitioning to monotheism, it stood as a powerful testament of the traditional beliefs. Which is probably why church fathernTertullian described it as “just a rough stake, a shapeless piece of wood.” Back to June overview.
June 25: Day Of The Seafarer
"Saved By Song"
When the famous bard and lyre player Arion came back to Corinth after a succesful tour, he was robbed by the crew of the ship that he had booked. The sailors took all his earnings, and gave him a choice: to unalive himself, or jump straightaway into the sea. A desperate Arion chose the second option, but asked if he could sing just one last time. He put on his show costume, took his lyre, and gave the most moving performance of his life. It attracted the attention of all sealife in the neighbourhood, and brought his assailants to tears, but didn’t change their mind about his fate. So, when the song ended, he threw himself into the sea. Unknown to the sailors however, he was picked up by a dolphin, and was brought safely to shore. He told his story to the king of Corinth, but couldn’t convince him that it truly happened. So, they waited for the ship to arrive, and when the sailors announced they left Arion safely in Italy, it was clear they were lying, and Arion’s story was true. He and his dolphin are everywhere, from vase paintings to fresco’s, and it was the most beloved bedtime tale for little Greeks and Romans. Back to June overview.
June 26: International Day Against Day Abuse And Illicit Traficking
"Stimuli"
When young Semele was courted by supreme god Zeus himself, she couldn’t be happier. The two were madly in love, and soon, Semele was expecting their child. But Zeus’ wife Hera had planned a cruel revenge. She transformed into Semele’s old maid, and sowed doubt in her mind: How could the girl be sure her lover was a god, if she had never seen him in his divine form? As Zeus had promised to grant her every wish, he had to unleash the full heat of his divinity, and poor Semele was incinerated on the spot. A devastated Zeus sewed their son, Dionysos, in his tigh until he was ready to be born. Dionysos would become the god of wine, and traveled the world to spread the joy of drinking, always accompanied by his “thiasus”, a retinue of satyrs and euphoric women, called “maenads”. And when it was time for him to ascend to Olympos, he came with Semele, the mother he never got to know. As the goddess Thyone, she would enthousiasticly encourage the fun and partying. And under her latin name, Stimula, some of us still need her today. Back to June overview.
June 27: Pride Month
"Fool For Love"
Branchos was not your average Greek herdsman. He was far too good looking, too well mannered, too kind hearted and too talented to fit in. He had friends, he had admirers, but what he really craved, was a soulmate. Enter Apollo. He had been disappointed in love – again – and when he heard Branchos’ melancholic air on the pan pipes, it felt like listening to his own story. The two connected on a deep level, though Branchos was a bit apprehensive at first, Apollo being a god. But when Apollo offered to help milking and looked for an udder under a billy goat, he howled with laughter. It broke the ban, and the two lived some beautiful summers of love. Branchos was Apollo’s anchor, and Apollo was Branchos’ pride and joy. The god bestowed him with the gift of prophecy, and his descendants, the “Branchidae” have been respected seers ever since. Especially since they provided their clients with the answers they expected and wanted to hear. An inspirational business model, as has been clearly demonstrated in recent years. Back to June overview.
June 29: International Fisherman Day
"Something Fishy"The job of a Greek seer wasn’t an easy one. Predicting the future from looking at the flight of birds, disecting an animal to decide whether or not to go to war, deciphering a divine message in someone’s dream, and of course, explaining all kinds of omens, from trivial to totally weird. Like what happened when king Aretus was preparing for his wedding night. While he was sacrificing to Aphrodite, a pig gave birth to five fishes. What could this mean? Did Aretus offend a sea god in some way? Should he embark on a ship? Was there a flood coming? After some debate, the prophets agreed that the omen referred to future children. It was clear that there would be five sons, as no god would bother to send an omen about girls, right? So, what about them? Would they become good swimmers, fishermen maybe? No, far too obvious. The sons of course, would be… mute, “as all creatures of the sea”. They were indeed, until Dionysos “untied the knot around their tongue”. So far for Aretus’ myth, thank you for listening. I will now not take any questions. Back to June overview.
June 30: Social Media Day
"Rumour Has It"
The Athenian socialite Alkibiades was as (in)famous as he was rich, and his extravagant lifestyle was widely covered. When he caused indignation for chopping the tail of his million-dollar dog, he dryly explained: “This way at least, they don’t talk about all the other stuff.” Now, hearsay and gossip were the domain of Pheme, ancient goddess of rumour (hence “fame”). According to the ancient Greeks – masters in concretising abstract subjects – Pheme was just a small goddess, but when she heard something juicy, she would grow and grow. She would spread every rumour, first as a small whisper, then louder and louder, until she would be shouting and blowing the trumpet. It would gain her some popularity at first, but inevitably, she would end up hurting people. It would leave her quite isolated, with only the goddess of discord, Eris, as a trusted companion. Nowadays, when scrolling through social media, it seems the pair of them, Rumour and Row, are still alive and kicking, and still the closest of friends. Back to June overview.