Baucis and Philemon

Baucis and Philemon is an old story that people used to tell a long time ago. The story goes that there was a kind old man named Philemon and his wife Baucis. They lived in a little hut in the countryside and didn't have a lot of money.

One day, the gods Zeus and Hermes came down to earth to see how humans were living. They disguised themselves as travelers and went from door to door, looking for someone who would give them a place to rest for the night.

But everyone they asked turned them away, except for Baucis and Philemon. They welcomed the strangers into their humble home, even though they didn't have a lot to offer. They gave the travelers their only bed to sleep in, and they shared the little food they had with them.

The travelers were so impressed by Baucis and Philemon's kindness that they revealed themselves as gods. They told the couple that they would grant them a wish, anything they wanted.

Baucis and Philemon didn't want anything for themselves. Instead, they wished that they could be together forever and never have to live without each other. The gods granted their wish by turning their little hut into a grand temple.

Baucis and Philemon became the keepers of the temple, and they lived out their days serving the gods. And when they were very old, they died together, happy knowing that they had each other for all eternity.

So, the story of Baucis and Philemon is about the virtues of hospitality, humility and selflessness. It teaches us to be kind to strangers, to share what we have, and to value what is truly important in life – our relationships with the people we love.