Ceyx and Alcyone
King and queen who loved each other so deeply the gods transformed them into kingfisher birds to be together after death.
The Legend of Ceyx and Alcyone
They called each other Zeus and Hera — and the real gods punished them for it with a shipwreck. Ceyx, son of Eosphorus, and his wife Alcyone were so devoted that they playfully used the names of the king and queen of the gods. Zeus sank Ceyx's ship with a thunderbolt while he was consulting an oracle. Morpheus appeared to Alcyone in a dream wearing Ceyx's drowned form. She found his body washed ashore and threw herself into the sea. The gods transformed both into halcyon birds (kingfishers). Aeolus, Alcyone's father, calms the seas for seven days each winter so they can nest — the halcyon days.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The phrase halcyon days — meaning a period of peace — comes directly from this myth.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Alcyone
🗡 heroLove, transformation, birds
Queen of Trachis who was transformed into a kingfisher bird alongside her devoted husband Ceyx
Alcyone
🌿 nymphNymph who became the kingfisher
Alcyone and her husband Ceyx called themselves Zeus and Hera; as punishment, both were transformed into kingfisher birds — but their love endured.
Tereus and Philomela
🗡 herovengeance, transformation
The myth of a Thracian king who assaulted his sister-in-law and cut out her tongue, only for the sisters to exact gruesome revenge.
Tereus
🗡 heroKing who was transformed into a hoopoe
Tereus was a Thracian king who married Procne, then assaulted her sister Philomela and cut out her tongue — the sisters' revenge and transformation is one of mythology's darkest tales.
Cycnus of Liguria
🗡 heroGrief, Transformation, Swan
Ligurian king and kinsman of Phaethon transformed into a swan while mourning along the river Eridanus.
Tereus
🗡 herocrime
Thracian king who raped Philomela, cut out her tongue, and was transformed into a hoopoe bird.
Peleus
🗡 heroheroism
King of Phthia, Argonaut, and father of Achilles who wrestled the shape-shifting sea goddess Thetis to win her as his bride.
Periclymenos
🗡 heroShape-shifting, combat
Grandson of Poseidon who could change shape at will and sailed with the Argonauts
Ino
🗡 heromadness
Theban princess who raised the infant Dionysus, was driven mad by Hera, and leaped into the sea to become the goddess Leucothea.
Philomela
🗡 herotransformation
Athenian princess whose tongue was cut out by her rapist Tereus, who wove her story into a tapestry to reveal the crime.
Tyro
🗡 herolove
Beautiful princess who fell in love with the river god Enipeus, only to be seduced by Poseidon disguised as the river.
Leda
🗡 heroQueen seduced by Zeus as a swan
Leda was the queen of Sparta who was seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan and bore two eggs — from which hatched Helen, Clytemnestra, Castor, and Pollux.