Myths Derived from Scripture

Baucis and Philemon (Abraham and Sarah) A Story of Poverty, Kindness, and
Hospitality

According to ancient Roman mythology and Ovid's Metamorphoses (8.631, 8.720.), Philemon and
Baucis had lived out their long lives nobly but in poverty. Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods, had heard of
the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences with humans, he had severe doubts about
their goodness.

Jupiter was about to destroy humanity but was willing to give it one final chance
before starting again. So, in the company of his son Mercury, the wing-footed messenger god, Jupiter went
about, disguised as a worn and weary traveler, from house to house among the neighbors of Philemon and
Baucis. As Jupiter feared and expected, the neighbors turned him and Mercury away rudely. Then the two
gods went to the last house, the cottage of Philemon and Baucis, where the couple had lived all their long
married lives.

Philemon and Baucis were pleased to have visitors and insisted that their guests
rest before their little hearth fire. They even lugged in more of their precious firewood to
make a greater blaze. Unasked, Philemon and Baucis then served their presumably
starving guests fresh fruits, olives, eggs, and wine.

Soon the old couple noticed that no matter how often they poured from it, the wine
pitcher was never empty. They began to suspect that their guests might be more than mere mortals. Just
in case, Philemon and Baucis decided to provide the closest they could come to a meal that was fit for a
god. They would slaughter their only goose in their guests' honor. Unfortunately, the legs of the goose were
faster than those of Philemon or Baucis. Even though the humans were not as fast, they were more
innovative, so they cornered the goose inside the cottage, where they were just about to catch it. At the
last moment, the goose sought the shelter of the divine guests. Jupiter and Mercury revealed themselves
and immediately expressed their pleasure in meeting a reliable human pair to save the goose. The gods
took the couple to a mountain from which they could see the punishment their neighbors had suffered --
a devastating flood.

Asked what divine favor they wanted, the couple said they wished to become
temple priests and die together. Their wish was granted, and when they died, they were
turned into intertwining trees.
 The myth of Deucalion and Pyrrha
(Noah’s Ark)

While the Titan Prometheus was bound and chained atop Mount Caucasus to steal fire from Zeus,
the world below and its peoples were in a bad moral situation. Greed, anger, jealousy, and hate would exist
among people ever since Pandora had opened that forbidden box, from where all evils went out. The Gods
were angry at the humans because they would also forget to pray to their names and honor them with
sacrifices apart from their unacceptable behavior. That is why Zeus decided to destroy all humankind.
Only two people would seem right: Deucalion, who was the son of Prometheus, known for his
rightful character and sound advice, and his wife, Pyrrha, a very fair lady. The Gods perceived them to be
the most righteous amongst the men and women on Earth and had chosen them to be the only survivors
of that catastrophe that was about to occur.
One day, while visiting his father Prometheus, Deucalion was told by his father that a great flood
was about to devastate and wash away everything on earth, for people had forgotten the purpose of their
creation. Alarmed at this dire warning, Deucalion hastened back to Pyrrha and telling her of the impending
doom. They constructed a boat together and were making themselves ready for the disaster.

The Great Flood

A strange uncomfortable silence descended upon the surroundings. There was not a breath of wind
to be felt. Without warning, the storm unleashed its fury upon the poor people lashing them severely.
Deucalion and Pyrrha got quickly into the boat, and soon the flood carried them away. The rain was raging
for days and nights, and all fell to the wrath of the Gods. Only Deucalion and Pyrrha aboard the boat were
kept safe.
The storm's fury stopped when all around was only water, not a tree or mountain could be seen. The
boat was drifting for days while the water slowly drained away, and finally, the day came when it rested on
dry land, atop Mount Parnassos, close to the area of Delphi. Dismay struck the hearts of Deucalion and
Pyrrha as their eyes fell upon the destruction and devastation caused by the flood.
Such was their grief that tears were rolling from their eyes with no stop. Then Hermes, the messenger of
the gods, unable to bear their sadness, appeared before them and told them to wipe the tears from their
eyes and, without looking back, "to throw the bones of their mother over their shoulders."
At first, the two were puzzled at this cryptic message, but Deucalion found the solution: the "mother" was
the Earth and the "bones" were the stones. Deucalion and Pyrrha gathered all the rocks together, and while
they were walking, they threw the rocks behind them without looking.
Like a miracle, the stones hit the earth and were turned into humans: those thrown by Deucalion became
handsome men, and those thrown by Pyrrha became fair women. Thus, the two survivors of the great flood
re-populated the earth, and once again, they emerged as a human race. Deucalion reigned over them as a
wise king, and Pyrrha was their queen.
 HERCULES
(Samson)

Hercules was the son of Jupiter and Alcmena. As Juno was always hostile to the
offspring of her husband by mortal mothers, she declared war against Hercules from his
birth. She sent two serpents to destroy him as he lay in his cradle, but the precocious infant strangled them
with his own hands. He was, however, by the arts of Juno rendered subject to Eurystheus and compelled
to perform all his commands. Eurystheus enjoined upon him a succession of desperate adventures, which
are called the "Twelve Labors of Hercules." The first was the fight with the Nemean lion. A terrible lion
infested the valley of Nemea. Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring him the skin of this monster. After
using his club and arrows against the lion in vain, Hercules strangled the animal with his hands. He
returned, carrying the dead lion on his shoulders. Still, Eurystheus was so frightened at the sight of it and
this proof of the prodigious strength of the hero that he ordered him to deliver the account of his exploits
in the future outside the town.

His next labor was the slaughter of the Hydra. This monster ravaged the country of Argos and dwelt
in a swamp near the well of Amymone. This well had been discovered by Amymone when the country was
suffering from drought, and the story was that Neptune, who loved her, had permitted her to touch the rock
with his trident, and spring of three outlets burst forth. Here the Hydra took up his position, and Hercules
was sent to destroy him. The Hydra had nine heads, of which the middle one was immortal. Hercules
struck off its heads with his club, but two new ones grew forth each time in the place of the head knocked
off. At length, with the assistance of his faithful servant Iolaus, he burned away the heads of the Hydra and
buried the ninth or immortal one under a huge rock.

Another labor was the cleaning of the Augean stables. Augeas, king of Elis, had a herd of three
thousand oxen, whose stalls had not been cleaned for thirty years. Hercules brought the rivers Alpheus
and Peneus through them and cleansed them thoroughly in one day.

His next labor was of a more delicate kind. Admeta, the daughter of Eurystheus, longed to obtain
the girdle of the queen of the Amazons, and Eurystheus ordered Hercules to go and get it. The Amazons
were a nation of women. They were very warlike and held several flourishing cities. Their custom was to
bring up only the female children; the boys were either sent away to the neighboring nations or put to death.
Several volunteers accompanied Hercules, and after various adventures, at last, reached the country of
the Amazons. Hippolyta, the queen, received him kindly and consented to yield him her girdle, but Juno,
taking the form of an Amazon, went and persuaded the rest that the strangers were carrying off their queen.
They instantly armed and came in great numbers down to the ship. Hercules thought that Hippolyta had
acted treacherously, slew her, and took her girdle to make sail homewards.

Another task enjoined him was to bring to Eurystheus the oxen of Geryon, a monster with three bodies,
who dwelt in the island Erytheia (the red), so-called because it lay at the west, under the rays of the setting
sun. This description is thought to apply to Spain, of which Geryon was king. After traversing various
countries, Hercules reached at length the frontiers of Libya and Europe, where he raised the two
mountains of Calpe and Abyla, as monuments of his progress, or, according to another account, rent one
mountain into two and left half on each side, forming the straits of Gibraltar, the two mountains are called
the Pillars of Hercules. The oxen were guarded by the giant Eurytion and his two−headed dog, but Hercules
killed the giant and his dog and brought away the oxen in safety to Eurystheus.

The most challenging labor of all was getting the golden apples of the Hesperides, for Hercules did not
know where to find them. These were the apples that Juno had received at her wedding from the goddess
of the Earth and which she had entrusted to the keeping of the daughters of Hesperus, assisted by a
watchful dragon. After various adventures, Hercules arrived at Mount Atlas in Africa. Atlas was one of the
Titans who had warred against the gods, and after they were subdued. Atlas was condemned to bear on
his shoulders the weight of the heavens. He was the Hesperides and Hercules father, though, if anyone
could, find the apples and bring them to him. But how to send Atlas away from his post or bear up the
heavens while he was gone?
Hercules took the burden on his shoulders and sent Atlas to seek the apples. He returned with them,
though somewhat reluctantly, took his burden upon his shoulders
again, and let Hercules return with the apples to Eurystheus.
 The Myth of Scylla and Nisus
The mythical story of Scylla and Nisus
by Thomas Bulfinch

(Samson and Delilah)

Minos, king of Crete, made war upon Megara. Nisus was king of Megara, and Scylla was his
daughter. The siege had now lasted six months, and the city still held out, for it was decreed by fate
that it should not be taken so long as a certain purple lock, which glittered among the hair of King
Nisus, remained on his head. There was a tower on the city walls, which overlooked the plain where
Minos and his army were encamped. To this tower Scylla used to repair, and look abroad over the
tents of the hostile army. The siege had lasted so long that she had learned to distinguish the persons
of the leaders. Minos, in particular, excited her admiration. She admired his graceful deportment; if
he threw his javelin, skill seemed combined with force in the discharge; if he drew his bow, Apollo
himself could not have done it more gracefully. But when he laid aside his helmet, and in his purple
robes bestrode his white horse with its gay caparisons, and reined in its foaming mouth, the daughter
of Nisus was hardly mistress of herself; she was almost frantic with admiration. She envied the
weapon that he grasped, the reins that he held. She felt as if she could, if it were possible, go to him
through the hostile ranks; she felt an impulse to cast herself down from the tower into the midst of his
camp, or to open the gates to him, or do anything else, so only it might gratify Minos. As she sat in
the tower, she talked thus with herself: "I know not whether to rejoice or grieve at this sad war. I grieve
that Minos is our enemy; but I rejoice at any cause that brings him to my sight. Perhaps he would be
willing to grant us peace, and receive me as a hostage. I would fly down, if I could, and alight in his
camp, and tell him that we yield ourselves to his mercy. But, then, to betray my father! No! Rather
would I never see Minos again. And yet no doubt it is sometimes the best thing for a city to be
conquered when the conqueror is clement and generous.

Minos certainly has right on his side. I think we shall be conquered; and if that must be the end of it,
why should not love unbar the gates to him, instead of leaving it to be done by war? Better spare
delay and slaughter if we can. And, oh, if any one should wound or kill Minos! No one surely would
have the heart to do it; yet ignorantly, not knowing him, one might. I will, I will surrender myself to
him, with my country as a dowry, and so put an end to the war. But how? The gates are guarded,
and my father keeps the keys; he only stands in my way. Oh, that it might please the gods to take
him away! But why ask the gods to do it? Another woman, loving as I do, would remove with her own
hands whatever stood in the way of her love. And can any other woman dare more than I? I would
encounter fire and sword to gain my object; but here there is no need of fire and sword. I only need
my father's purple lock. More precious than gold to me, that will give me all I wish." While she thus
reasoned night came on, and soon the whole palace was buried in sleep.

She entered her father's bedchamber and cut off the fatal lock; then passed out of the city and entered
the enemy's camp. She demanded to be led to the king, and thus addressed him: "I am Scylla, the
daughter of Nisus. I surrender to you my country and my father's house. I ask no reward but yourself;
for love of you I have done it. See here the purple lock! With this I give you my father and his kingdom."
She held out her hand with the fatal spoil. Minos shrunk back and refused to touch it. "The gods
destroy thee, infamous woman," he exclaimed; "disgrace of our time! May neither earth nor sea yield
thee a resting place! Surely, my Crete, where Jove himself was cradled, shall not be polluted with
such a monster!" Thus he said, and gave orders that equitable terms should be allowed to the
conquered city, and that the fleet should immediately sail from the island.

Scylla was frantic. "Ungrateful man," she exclaimed, "is it thus you leave me? Me who have given
you victory, who have sacrificed for you parent and country! I am guilty, I confess, and deserve to
die, by not by your hand." As the ships left the shore, she leaped into the water, and seizing the
rudder of the one which carried Minos, she was borne along an unwelcome companion of their
course. A sea-eagle soaring aloft, it was her father who had been changed into that form, seeing her,
pounced down upon her, and struck her with his beak and claws. In terror she let go the ship, and
would have fallen into the water, but some pitying deity changed her into a bird. The sea- eagle still
cherishes the old animosity; and whenever he espies her in his lofty flight, you may see him dart
down upon her, with beak and claws, to take vengeance for the ancient crime.