- See also Ceyx (disambiguation).
Ovid and Hyginus both also recount the metamorphosis of the pair in and after Ceyx's loss in a storm, though they both omit Ceyx and Alcyone calling each other Zeus and Hera- and Zeus's resulting anger - as a reason for it. They both also make the metamorphosis the origin of the etymology for "halcyon days", the seven days in winter when storms never occur. They state that these were originally the seven days each year during which Alcyone (as a kingfisher) laid her eggs and made her nest on the beach and during which her father Aeolus, god of the winds, restrained the winds and calmed the waves so she could do so in safety. The phrase has since become a term used to describe a peaceful time generally.
The myth is also briefly referred to by Virgil, again without reference to Zeus's anger.
Classical sources
Later references
- Various kinds of kingfishers are named after the couple, in reference to the metamorphosis myth:
- The genus Ceyx (within the River kingfishers family) is named after him
- The kingfisher family Halcyonidae (Tree kingfishers) is named after his wife, as is the genus Halcyon.
- The Belted Kingfisher's Latin species name (Megaceryle alcyon) also references her name.
- Their story features in The Book of the Duchess.
External links
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Last updated on Thursday March 20, 2008 at 18:28:03 PDT (GMT -0700)
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