THESTIUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The tale of Phene is one of the tales of transformation, the metamorphosis in this case of mortal to bird.
The Metamorphosis of Phene
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Phene was named as a Queen of Attica, married to one of the region’s earliest kings, Periphas. Periphas was a beloved king, loved perhaps too much by his subjects, for they ended up worshipping as a god.
Although not Periphas’ fault, he could have done more to dissuade his subjects from building temples dedicated to him, and the acts of his subject greatly angered Zeus. Zeus believing that the Atticans were neglecting the making of sacrifices to him, by offering prayers to their king instead. Zeus would have struck Periphas down, but instead Apollo convinced him not to kill the king, so instead Zeus descended from Mount Olympus to Attica, and there entered the royal palace. Zeus discovered Periphas and Phene together. Zeus would transform Periphas into an eagle, and made the former mortal king into the king of birds. Phene though, would plead with Zeus to transform her as well for she did not want to be separated from her husband. Zeus heard her pleas, and Zeus thus transformed Phene into a vulture, so that she could accompany Periphas. Zeus also decreed that from then on, the sight of Phene, as a vulture, would me a good omen for man. |
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Colin Quartermain - Phene - 30th May 2026