as told by E. M. Berens 1894

Niobe’s Tears

Niobe, daughter of Tantalus, was so proud of her fourteen children that she brazenly claimed the privileges of a goddess.

Introduction

Niobe was a legendary Queen of Thebes with fourteen lovely children. In a moment of motherly pride, she scoffed at the goddess Leto, mother of just two. But they were Apollo and Artemis; and Niobe had unleashed an unstoppable divine feud that would make her name synonymous with tears.

as told by E. M. Berens 1894

IN the sad and beautiful story of Niobe, daughter of Tantalus, and wife of Amphion, king of Thebes, we have another instance of the severe punishments meted out by Apollo to those who in any way incurred his displeasure.

Niobe was the proud mother of seven sons and seven daughters, and exulting in the number of her children, she, upon one occasion, ridiculed the worship of Leto, because she had but one son and daughter, and desired the Thebans, for the future, to give to her the honours and sacrifices which they had hitherto offered to the mother of Apollo and Artemis.

The sacrilegious words had scarcely passed her lips before Apollo called upon his sister Artemis to assist him in avenging the insult offered to their mother, and soon their invisible arrows sped through the air.

❰

1 2

❱

Précis

In Greek mythology, Niobe was a queen who boasted of her fourteen lovely children, and mocked the goddess Leto for having but two, even suggesting that the worship of Leto should be given to her instead. In revenge, Leto’s children, the god Apollo and his sister Artemis, swept in with their invisible bows and arrows at the ready.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

Why did Niobe look down on the goddess Leto?

Clay Lane The Copybook