Alcyone
nymphAlcyone and her husband Ceyx called themselves Zeus and Hera; as punishment, both were transformed into kingfisher birds — but their love endured.
The Myth
Alcyone and Ceyx were so happy that they arrogantly compared themselves to Zeus and Hera. When Ceyx was killed in a shipwreck, Alcyone found his body washed ashore and threw herself into the sea. The gods, moved by their love, transformed both into kingfishers (alcyons). Zeus decreed that for seven days each winter, the seas would be calm so the kingfisher could nest on the water — these were the halcyon days.
Parents
Symbols
Fun Fact
"Halcyon days" — meaning a period of peace and happiness — comes directly from the calm seas Zeus granted this nymph.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
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