January 16: Wedding Month

In ancient times, it was a father’s responsibility to marry his daughter off to a candidate with good prospects. But some didn’t bother and just kept her at home, as did the father of Aetolian princess Marpessa. As she was not only good looking, but also smart and kind, she attracted male attention anyway, and the suitor she liked most, was the hero Idas, son of Poseidon. The couple decided to elope, but they were intercepted by Apollo, always on the lookout for a suitable bride. To his surprise, Marpessa was hesitant to switch partners. He called on his father to intervene, but Zeus wasn’t going to sow friction in the family by choosing his son over his nephew. So he suggested the revolutionary idea to leave it up to the bride-to-be. To soften the blow, Marpessa told Apollo she would feel terrible growing old and ugly next to his eternal radiance. With his pride intact, Apollo generously retreated, and Marpessa and Idas’ marriage was a warm and happy one.