The Story of Philemon and Baucis

GREEK MYTHOLOGY ,  ROMAN MYTHOLOGY

The sky-god Zeus (Jupiter) often took the form of a human being to visit

Earth in order to learn more about the conduct of the people. Once in the
company of his son Hermes (Mercury), they arrived to Phrygia dressed as normal
peasants to test the hospitality (xenia), chastity and virtues of the people. They
went from one house to another, asking for kindness and hospitality, but to no
avail the doors wouldn’t open and they were rejected by all the homes they
visited. There was no compassion for the beseeching and no reverence towards
the gods.
However there was an exception, one house, the home of Philemon and
Baucis, an older couple who lived in a meagre and paltry cottage but who
worshipped the gods with deep piety. They had no servants nor any riches,
they lived a simple life and cared for one another and most of all they were
happy together. When the gods entered their home both were kindly welcomed
by Philemon. Though they lived in a simple cottage the old couple did their best
to satisfy and care for the visiting strangers, as they prepared a simple meal
consisting of olives, eggs and milk accompanied with wine mixed with water in
a cup.
Moments pass and the old couple start noticing, to their astonishment,
that the cup which they drank from replenished itself, the more they emptied
their drinks the more it filled by itself. This magical act made them realize that
their guests were divine gods. So immediately they raised their hands up to the
air in reverence and apologized for the scanty provisions. In an anxious and
eager attempt to please them, the old couple reached out for the only geese
they owned in order to kill and prepare it for them. But the geese instead took
refuge in the presence of the strangers, which made them forbid their hosts of
harming the scared animal.

Philemon and Baucis by Rembrandt

As things settled, the gods announced their business and purpose in
their town. They first claimed that they were indeed gods and then they
proceeded by saying that they intend to punish the entire region for their
offences, unkindness and impiety. Only Philemon and Baucis would be spared
from the oncoming disaster.
So they ordered them to follow as they began walking with their walking
sticks up a steep hill and higher yet to the peak of mountain. When they
arrived at the top they turned around only to see their entire town being
engulfed by a great flood, until the entire region was but a big lake. To their
amazement only their small cottage remained unscathed, but now it was much
more than that, as it had been transformed to a magnificent temple with
majestic pillars, splendid doors and a glorious golden roof. After this Zeus
addressed them cordially and granted them to make a wish of their own heart’s
desire. While Philemon consulted briefly with his wife, they then expressed
their request:
We ask to be priests and watch over your temples, and since we have
spent harmonious years, let the same hour take us two, nor may I ever see my
wife’s tomb(s), neither may I be buried by her.[1]

Philemon and Baucis as a Priest and Priestess by Janus Genelli

Their wish was granted, and as a priest and priestess, even in their old
age they watched over the temple years to come. As the years had gone by,
Philemon suddenly saw his wife was being covered in green leaves, while
Baucis in turn, saw Philemon being shrouded in leaves. Both understood what
was happening and that their time had come. They spoke tender and loving
words to each other until at last their mouths had been covered by foliage.
Philemon had turned into a oak tree and Baucis into a small-leaved lime tree.
Philemon and Baucis Turning into Trees by Janus Genelli (1801)
The trees stood for centuries upon the hills of Phrygia, beside each other,
an old oak tree and an old lime tree, with magnificent branches were adorned
with lovely wreaths. Close to the trees, there was an expansive lake, where
once there lived people on its inhabited land.