Story Iole tells Dryope her sister Dryope walking

Story Iole tells – Dryope, her sister Dryope, walking with her infant son, accidently picked a flower from a living Lotus tree and in punishment was turned herself into a Lotus tree.

Dryope, still clutching her child, changes form.

Dryope changing.

Further stories of ‘strange’ loves • Caunis and Byblis – Byblis falls in love with her brother, Caunis. In her sorrow she becomes a fountain, tears and all.

Her brother refuses her advances.

Byblis and her brother, Caunis.

Byblis becomes a fountain.

Iphis and Ianthe – Iphis’ mother raises her as a boy to save her life. Telethusa is told by her husband to kill her child if it is born a daughter.

But the Egyptian goddess Isis tells Telethusa to save her daughter by pretending she’s a son. The infant is named Iphis.

Iphis as a “young man” is betrothed by her father to Ianthe, but also falls in love with Ianthe.

Telethusa and Iphis pray to Isis for help.

By the benevolence of Isis, Iphis is changed to a man and marries Ianthe.

Orpheus • • • Son of Calliope & Apollo? Orpheus was Thracian Best known as a musician Fell in love and married Eurydice On wedding day, she was bitten on the ankle by a snake and died • Orpheus went to Hades to get her back • He charmed the underworld with his music • Her return was granted, provided he would walk ahead and not look back…. .

Orpheus and the dying Eurydice

Eurydice follows her husband out of Hades.

Sculpture captures the moment that Orpheus looks back and realizes what he’s done. She’s lost.

End game… • After losing Eurydice, Orpheus swore off all women • A group of angry Bacchants tore him to pieces

Killing of Orpheus by Bacchants

Head of Orpheus, 1866 Head of Orpheus, 1905 Orpheus’ head, tossed in the ocean by the Bacchants, floated to the island of Lesbos, an island that produced many poets in classical times.