Hello everyone, welcome back to "Greek Mythology Gods"! This is the gateway to the depths of mythology, where the ancient gods whisper and fate and power intertwine. Let us embark on a journey filled with wonder and awe, pursuing theglory of Olympus and its eternal legends!
Last episode, we told the story of Dionysus, the god of wine—he brings joy but also punishes. Pentheus's disrespect for the gods led to his brutal annihilation, a reminder of the world's fear of power. Today's story is equally filled with irony and a twist of fate—because of a boast, tragedy strikes again.
Niobe, the wife of King Amphion, was of noble birth and extraordinary beauty. She had seven sons and seven daughters. She proudly believed herself to be more worthyof worship than the goddess Leto—after all, she had so many children, while Leto had only two: Apollo and Artemis.
At a festival, Niobe openly mocked Leto and ordered the people to stop worshipping the "pitiful goddess." Her arrogance infuriated Leto, who sent her children, Apollo and Artemis, to punish her. In a flash, Niobe's seven sons were slain by divine arrows. When the news reached the palace, KingAmphion, overcome with grief, committed suicide.
Desperate, Niobe raged against Leto, claiming she was still more fortunate than the goddess—she still had seven daughters. However, the goddess's wrath did not subside. In a flash, her seven daughters fell one by one. Looking at the bodies of her loved ones scattered on the ground, Niobe's heart shattered into ashes, tears streaming down her face.
Eventually, her body stiffened, turning to a cold stone. But her eyes continued to shed tears—tears that never ceased.
To this day, a statue of Niobe stands on a hillside near the ruins of Thebes, Greece. Her face, etched with sorrow, seems to express a mother's eternal sorrow.
—Hubris makes the gods weep; tragedy, it is remembered forever.
This is "Greek Mythology Gods," where the stories of the gods reflect the light and shadow of human nature.
Next episode, we'll delve into the legendary story of the "Heavenly Naughty Boy"—"Hermes the Mischievous." Stay tuned!
For further reading, you can refer to the following:
Niobe- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobe
Leto- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leto
If you’d like to dive deeper beyond the stories, you can also explore sculptures inspired by these myths here:
https://www.arturbanstatue.com/other-product/greek-and-roman-statues/