WORLD MYTHOLOGIES' ICONIC COUPLES
World Mythologies' Iconic Couples
Love, a universal theme, undoubtedly captivates our interest in mythologies as well. Therefore, in this article, I wanted to compile couples and legends from mythology.
Love at First Sight: Eros and Psyche
The first story we include in the list is, of course, the tale of the Greek god of love, Eros, and his wife, Psyche. After all, who could have a better love story than a god of love, right? Psyche, one of the three daughters of the King of Miletus, becomes famous throughout the land with her beauty. Rumors spread so far and wide that even Aphrodite hears about Psyche's priceless beauty. However, Aphrodite is not pleased with Psyche's mortal beauty, which captivates many. Jealous of young Psyche, Aphrodite instructs her son Eros to make Psyche fall in love with someone hideous. She believes that this way, Psyche will suffer greatly and lose her beauty. However, what she fails to consider is that Eros himself becomes infatuated with Psyche at first sight.
The Abduction of Psyche, William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Eros takes Psyche to his castle, which is protected by magic to conceal her from his mother. Eros arrives at the castle only during the night when not a single candle is lit, and he instructs Psyche not to inquire about his identity. Psyche, deeply affected by the man in front of her due to his love for her, agrees to Eros's request. Thus, Eros and Psyche get married.
However, instead of sharing in her happiness, Psyche's sisters deceive her. Convinced by her sisters that her husband is a hideous monster, Psyche seizes the opportunity to light a candle while Eros is asleep. Expecting to encounter a monster, Psyche instead sees Eros sleeping in front of her. At that moment, a drop of wax from the candle falls on Eros's face. Feeling betrayed, Eros abandons Psyche. In the continuation of the story, Psyche begins to search for Eros. She even seeks help from Aphrodite. However, she falls into a trap set by Aphrodite and falls into a death-like sleep. When Eros learns of the events, he asks Zeus to save Psyche. Impressed by their love, Zeus not only awakens Psyche but also makes her immortal. Thus, just like in fairy tales, they live happily ever after.
Unfulfilled Lovers: Zhinü and Niulang
Next is the story of the most famous lovers in Chinese mythology. Known as The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, this story is considered the reason for the celebration of the Qixi Festival in China, which can be described as a Valentine's Day celebration. According to the story, Niulang is an orphaned shepherd who lives with his old ox. Zhinü is the youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor, known as the ruler of all realms. No matter how you look at it, it's an impossible love... Everything begins with Zhinü escaping from her father's palace and coming down to the mortal world. Normally spending her time weaving, Zhinü believes it's time for an adventure. During her journey in the mortal world, Zhinü meets the shepherd Niulang and accepts the marriage proposal of this man who is madly in love with her.
Zhinü and Niulang have two children and lead a simple but happy life. However, when the Jade Emperor learns about the situation, he is not pleased. On the contrary, he sends his wife, the Queen Mother, back to the mortal world to bring their daughters. When Zhinü is brought back to heaven, Niulang's entire life is turned upside down. His ox, realizing this, advises Niulang to kill him and use his skin to make shoes that will enable him and his children to fly to the sky. Despite his reluctance, Niulang accepts this offer.
After pleading with the Jade Emperor and his wife for days, Niulang finally gets a chance to see his wife again. However, time passes so quickly that the two have to part before fully satisfying their longing. Niulang starts running after his taken wife, but just as they are about to reunite, the Angry Queen Mother creates a river in the sky, preventing Niulang and Zhinü from meeting. Magpies come to the aid of the couple, watching each other with old eyes from either end of the river. The magpies create a bridge over the river, realizing that they cannot be separated. Understanding this, the Angry Queen Mother allows them to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. The day the couple reunites is celebrated as the Qixi Festival. In the story, the river represents the Milky Way galaxy, while Niulang and Zhinü symbolize the Altair and Vega stars, respectively.
Sibling Discord: Osiris and Isis
Sibling marriage is a common theme in Egyptian mythology, and Osiris and Isis are one such couple. Originally the children of Geb and Nut, the couple marries as they grow up. Osiris and Isis, who have gained the respect of both the people and other deities, successfully rule Egypt during their reign. Unfortunately, this beloved couple meets a tragic end.
Osiris myth tells us about Seth, his brother, being the complete opposite of Osiris and growing up envious of him. Seth plots against his brother, secretly taking measurements to create a coffin that only Osiris would fit. He then throws a party and even invites Osiris as a guest. During the event, Seth reveals the coffin he had made and declares that whoever fits inside it can have it as a gift. However, no one can fit, except Osiris. Seizing the opportunity, Seth immediately locks the coffin and throws it into the Nile River.
Upon hearing of her husband's death, Isis retrieves Osiris's body from the river and hides it on the riverbank to prevent Seth from finding it. However, the next day, when Seth checks to ensure the coffin is not around, he discovers the body. Unsatisfied with what he did, Seth dismembers Osiris's body and hides the pieces throughout Egypt. With the help of both her brother and Seth's wife, Nephthys, Isis locates Osiris's body parts and reassembles them. Thus, Osiris becomes the first person to be mummified. Their son, Horus, grows up and eventually avenges his father by claiming the rightful throne.
Toxic Lovers: Hera and Zeus
Another famous couple from Greek mythology is Zeus and Hera, known for their tumultuous relationship. Theirs is not a sweet love story; instead, they are famous for their tension. We are familiar with Zeus through his forbidden loves, and Hera through her jealousy. There are numerous myths about them. So, how did this pair come together?
Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida, Charles-Antoine Coypel
Despite having relationships with many women, Zeus, the king of the gods, believes that none of them can sit beside him on the throne of Olympus. Therefore, he proposes marriage to his sister, Hera, thinking she is the perfect match. Zeus is quite surprised when Hera responds with a firm "No." Instead of trying to win Hera's heart, Zeus focuses on deceiving his sister. He quickly devises a plan, transforming into an injured cuckoo bird one day to catch Hera's attention. Seeing the wounded bird, Hera pities it and tries to help. At that moment, Zeus reverts to his original form. Zeus's plan works smoothly, and he succeeds in marrying Hera.
Although Zeus achieves what he set his mind to, we cannot say they are a happy couple. Zeus continues his philandering ways despite being married to Hera. Hera, in turn, attempts to eliminate anyone who attracts Zeus's attention. According to one myth, the couple has a child born out of Hera's jealousy. Just like Zeus gave birth to Athena alone, Hera wants to have a child, but unlike Athena, the child born, Hephaestus, is not perfect. Labeled as the ugliest of the gods, Hephaestus is abandoned by his parents at a young age due to Hera's envy.
The Couple Creating the Earth: Izanagi and Izanami
Every mythology has a creation myth, and in Japanese mythology, it revolves around the couple Izanagi and Izanami. According to Shinto belief, this pair represents the embodiments of darkness and the earth. Izanami translates to "inviting female" in Japanese, while Izanagi means "inviting male."
The gods assign Izanagi and Izanami the task of giving shape to the chaotic darkness. To assist them in their mission, the gods give them a jeweled spear. Confused about what to do, Izanagi and Izanami stand in the middle of the bridge between heaven and darkness. However, a drop from the tip of the spear falls, creating the first solid land. The couple settles here and later gets married. Unfortunately, during the marriage ritual, Izanami speaks prematurely, and as a punishment, the divine beings inflict them with a curse. They place their boneless newborns in a basket and cast them into the ocean. They repeat the ritual, living happily until the birth of their last child, the god of fire.
In the continuation of the legend, Izanami dies while giving birth to the fire god. Unable to bear the longing for his wife, Izanagi descends into the underworld. When he realizes he cannot return because he consumed the food specific to that realm, it is already too late. Moreover, he encounters his beloved wife's burnt body. Disturbed by the situation, Izanami chases Izanagi out of the underworld. When Izanagi returns to the world, he performs various rituals to purify himself. These purification rites are still associated with this story in contemporary Japan, especially in cleansing ceremonies.
The Separation by Immortality Duo: Chang'e and Houyi
The story of the last couple on our list has many different versions. However, all versions share the same tragic ending. In this article, we will explore the most popular two versions of the tale celebrated during China's Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival.
Chang'e and Houyi enjoy a happy life in heaven. However, one day, the Jade Emperor's ten sons transform themselves into ten suns, negatively affecting life on Earth. The Jade Emperor assigns Houyi the task of stopping his sons. Known for his skill in archery, Houyi has no choice but to shoot down nine of the suns with his bow. The Jade Emperor becomes furious and, as a punishment, turns Houyi and his wife Chang'e into mortals, sending them to Earth.
Houyi begins to search for ways to return to heaven. In his quest, he pursues the elixir of immortality. When he successfully obtains the elixir, the Queen Mother warns him that they must not share it if they want to stay together. Upon returning home, Houyi places the elixir in a box and warns Chang'e not to open it. However, overcome by curiosity, Chang'e opens the box and drinks the elixir. As a result, she ascends to the moon. Despite having the ability to shoot Chang'e down with his bow, Houyi does not want to harm her. Sadly, the deeply loving couple cannot reunite.
In the second version of the story, Houyi and Chang'e are both mortals. In their time, people strive to survive under the light of ten suns. As an archer, Houyi shoots down nine of the suns, earning him hero status among the people. Rewarded by a queen with an elixir of immortality, Houyi faces the dilemma of sharing it with only one person. Therefore, he decides to safely store the elixir. However, in his absence, his apprentice plans to steal the elixir. To prevent the theft, Chang'e drinks all of it and ascends to the moon. Upon discovering the situation, Houyi sees Chang'e's face when looking at the moon and starts offering baskets of fruit to the moon every night. One of the compassionate goddesses allows Chang'e to descend among mortals for one day, marking the beginning of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. People celebrate this day by making moon-themed cakes, pastries, and releasing sky lanterns with written wishes.
Romance week has come to an end, and it was delightful to explore mythological couples with you! Which couple was your favorite? If you have any other topics you need assistance with, feel free to ask. Until our next writings! 🌟
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