15

I have heard this particular greek/latin myth in school but I can't quite recall what it was called. Can you perhaps help me find it. So as far as I can recall the myth went as follows:

Two brothers had to plow a field because the ox didn't want to/died. This was apparently a really hard task but they were extremely exhausted but at the same time happy when they finished. As a reward the gods (maybe Jupiter) decided to kill/morph them such that they would be eternally happy in the afterlife.
I feel like it must have been an Ovid myth but again not certain.

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
15

That story appears in one of the most beautifully written stories that can exist. In Herodotus Histories, chapter 1.

The Athenian lawgiver Solon is visiting the richest man in the world the Lydian Croesus and Croesus want to impress Solon and show him how rich and wealthy he is and after asks him who is the happiest man:

My Athenian guest, [...] I really can't resist asking you now whether you have yet seen anyone who surpass all others in happiness and prosperity?"

Solon tries to give a very polite answer to Croesus telling him the story of the Athenian Tellus who died bravely defending Athens and was honored for that. Obviously, Croesus insists a little bit asking for a second person and here is your story in its full glory.

Cleobis and Biton. The were Argives [inhabitant of Argos] who had enough resources to live on and in addition were physically fit, as in shown by the fact that they both won prizes at athletics contests, as well as by this story told about them.
The Argives were having a festival for Hera, and their mother had to be taken to the shrine in a wagon, but the oxen were not back from the fields in time to pull it. [...] The young men put themselves under the yoke and themselves hauled the wagon.[...] their mother was simply elated by her sons' feat and by all the praise [from the Argives' crowd]. She stood before the statue of the goddess and said a prayer for [them]: that since they had shown her such great honour let the goddess grant them the best thing human being could have. [After the fest], the young men fell asleep in tat very sanctuary and never awake again. [showing clearly that it is better for a human being to be dead than to be alive]

Translation from the Landmark Herodotus.
Solon will explain then to him than no one can be called happy until his life is over. Pissed off Croesus sent Solon away. Later on, he will defy the Persian Lord Cyrius the Great and be beaten.

In Plutarch's Parallel lives

You find this story retold in Plutarch's Parallel lives in the Solon chapter (his roman par is Publius Valerius, Poplicola):

Yes, Cleobis and Biton, who were loving brothers, and extremely dutiful sons to their mother, and, when the oxen delayed her, harnessed themselves to the wagon, and drew her to Juno's temple, her neighbors all calling her happy, and she herself rejoicing; then, after sacrificing and feasting, they went to rest, and never rose again, but died in the midst of their honor a painless and tranquil death

I don't think you find that story in Ovid.

Bibliography

The landmark Herodotus
Parallel lives by Plutarch I have no advice in English edition. Unfortunately, I read other languages with so good translations...
Metamorphoses by Ovid

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    That's exactly the story! Thank you so much. I remembered it being a very inspiring and beautiful story.
    – Benedikt Bünz
    Commented Dec 9, 2016 at 8:50
  • 2
    I'm both fascinated and queasy that everyone thinks this is beautiful and inspiring. Queen Niobe also had her (14) children sent to death by gods, and she is the mythological archetype of the bereaved mother because of it. Niobe's children died because of the queen's boasts, so it was a punishment. These two men were trying to do the right thing and take care of their mother, so the gods kill them as an honor? Not even "put them in the stars so people could remember them," but just whack them? I'm puzzled as to how the mother (or anyone) could consider that a good thing.
    – Lauren-Clear-Monica-Ipsum
    Commented Dec 9, 2016 at 12:36
  • 1
    @LaurenIpsum One might look to Hesiod's Works and Days, where an honest life is understood as toil unto death. The Ancient Greek word for work, "ponos" is derived from the same root for poverty "penia": "penomai". "Pain" has its origins here.
    – DukeZhou
    Commented Dec 12, 2016 at 17:17

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.