Tales of the Bacchae

She’s beautiful...and she knows it. Koalemos stared at Persephone as she walked amongst the farmers of his village. How graceful she looked accepting their compliments, while gently warding off any of the men who tried to get too close. A light touch of her hand quickly disarmed any would-be suitors and left them feeling as though her touch alone could satisfy all of their yearnings. She knew when to laugh and when to be attentive and she also knew when to insert a few flattering words to curry more favor. It was the week of the Festival, which meant that the great Goddess, Demeter, and her daughter, Persephone, would grace the village with their presence and bless the people. Held once every five years, the people rejoiced at seeing their patron deity, Demeter, and showered her with prayers, sacrifices and gifts. Yes, of course Koalemos would join in the festivities and repeat the blessings to Demeter, but this was the year he would get Persephone to notice him. Struck by Cupid’s arrow of love at the last Festival, Koalemos spent the last five years waiting and yearning for his next opportunity to see Persephone. Mercilessly teased by the other children of his village, Koalemos had few kids his age he called his friends. “Ko,” they would call to him, “where is your long lost lover Persephone?” The older boys would tease Koalemos by putting on wigs made from olive branches and prance around the fields calling out his name. But Koalemos didn’t mind the teasing. He often dreamed of the moment when she would look at him and, casting aside all inhibitions, run to him and succumb to his embrace for eternity. He had heard the stories of other Gods and Goddesses being entranced by mortals. Hadn’t the mighty Artemis fallen in love with Narcissus? And of course Zeus, the greatest of the Gods was infamous for falling in love with young, mortal maidens. He felt in the deepest depths of his heart that Persephone knew how devoted and loving he was, and that she was eager to spend the rest of her days with him. And then he would have the final laugh. As Persephone walked amongst the farmers, Koalemos positioned himself close enough to watch, but far enough away that he did not seem too eager. He had to play this right. He was different from the rest of them; for only he truly loved Persephone and only he knew how to please the Goddess. A gap in the crowd opened up as Persephone walked, and for a slight moment, Koalemos was staring right into Persephone’s deep green eyes. He tried to remain calm, but knew immediately that his sheepish grin and downcast gaze gave away his true feelings. When he raised his eyes, he expected to see Persephone walking away. But instead, she paused for the slightest second and smiled back at him! His heart began racing and he lost all ability to speak. She had noticed him! It was too much to bear, but he knew it was true. She stopped, looked into his eyes, and smiled. It had to mean something, right? ***** Little did Koalemos know, but Persephone was quite aware of how her smile had affected him. For she knew of his love and desire to be with her. How silly mere mortals can be at times, she thought to herself. But this one is different. Most of the men in the village are consumed by my beauty, naturally, but are quick to forget when mother and I take our leave. It is the gift and the curse of man. Absence makes the heart forgetful. Isn’t that what Zeus often says during our feasts on Mount Olympus? At least when Hera is not around. Most men are devoted only to themselves and will turn to any warm body that shows them the slightest bit of interest. Laugh at their jokes, compliment their harvest and subjugate yourself to their physical prowess and they become putty in your hands. But this boy was different. From her perch among the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus, she watched as Koalemos praised her to his friends and family and obsessively devoted himself to her honor. How many goats had he sacrificed over the years to show me favor? she thought to herself, smiling. Yes, this farm boy was the perfect target to help her accomplish her ultimate plans. ***** Hades sat brooding on his throne, as he often did, while his minions surrounded him heaping praises and lavish gifts upon him. How many souls had he been given over the years? How many lives had been wasted and left to rot in the annals of his chambers? But Hades was in a particularly foul mood today. For today was the beginning of the great Festival. His sister Demeter would prance around the mortal realm and receive praise and gifts all her own from those weasely mortals. How he disdained them, and her, because of it. No mortal would dare throw a festival for Hades for fear that the ancient deity would actually appear. How they would run in fear from the wrath of the God of the Underworld. Ah, thinking of that actually raised his spirits. In fact, he had almost forgotten his favorite part of the Festival; Persephone. It had happened without warning during the last festival season over five harvests ago. Thinking back to it now, Hades tried to recall the first time he laid eyes on Persephone. He had just had another argument with his youngest brother, Zeus, about another one of his dalliances from his wife, Hera, who cast the mere mortal to the Underworld. Zeus, always having a soft spot for these mortal fools, had begged Hades to release the poor farm girl’s soul from his grasp and allow her to return to Earth. What a piteous fool his brother could be at times. Didn’t he know all mortals are interchangeable and he would forget all about this one in mere hours? But Zeus knew best and would not relent. He pled his case with such strength and vigor that Hades was exhausted by the end of his soliloquy. He needed to escape and took a rare trip to Earth to condemn souls on his own.