Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

Human couple transformed into trees

human_couple_transformed_into_trees

A motif of the Shapeshifter and Transformation family, within the sub-family Love, Kinship, and Marriage Transformations. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


roman

  • The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 1592-1674 confidence: medium

    The fable summary states that Jupiter and Mercury, disguised as humans, are refused by neighbors but welcomed by Philemon and Baucis; the gods reward them with a temple-priesthood transformation, change them into trees, submerge the impious village as a lake, and Acheloüs relates Proteus' changes.

    The fable summary says the worthy couple are changed into trees, and Lelex points to an oak near a lime tree at the Phrygian site.

    read in the book