Greek Mythology: Transformations

Arachne was a skilled weaver who challenged the goddess Athena to a weaving contest. Athena was defeated and, in her anger, transformed Arachne into a spider.

Daphne was a nymph who was pursued by the god Apollo. To escape him, she prayed to her father, the river god Peneus, to transform her into a laurel tree.

Medusa was a Gorgon with snakes for hair. Anyone who looked directly at her would be turned to stone.

Lycaon was a king who served human flesh to Zeus. Zeus was angered by this and transformed Lycaon into a wolf.

Io was a priestess of Hera. Zeus fell in love with her and transformed her into a cow to hide her from Hera.

Actaeon was a hunter who accidentally saw Artemis bathing. Artemis was angered by this and transformed him into a stag, which was then hunted and killed by his own dogs.

Philomela was a princess who was raped by her brother-in-law, Tereus. Tereus then cut out her tongue to prevent her from telling anyone. Philomela was transformed into a nightingale, which sings a beautiful song to express her sorrow.

Pyramus and Thisbe were two lovers who were forbidden from seeing each other. They agreed to meet under a mulberry tree. Pyramus arrived first and saw a lioness with blood on its mouth. He thought that Thisbe had been killed and killed himself. When Thisbe arrived, she saw Pyramus's body and killed herself as well. The mulberry tree was transformed into a red mulberry tree, symbolizing the lovers' blood.

Narcissus was a beautiful young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. He became so obsessed with his reflection that he forgot to eat and drink, and eventually died. He was transformed into a flower, the narcissus, which symbolizes self-love.

Orpheus was a musician who journeyed to the underworld to rescue his wife, Eurydice. He played his music so beautifully that he charmed the gods of the underworld, who agreed to let Eurydice go with him. However, Orpheus was not allowed to look back at Eurydice until they had reached the surface of the earth. Orpheus couldn't resist the temptation to look back, and Eurydice was lost to him forever. Orpheus was transformed into a tree, which symbolizes his grief.