The Story of Baucis & Philemon

One of the highest virtues in Greek mythology is the concept of hospitality for strangers. This story begins with Zeus (king of the gods) and Hermes (the messenger god) wandering through the hills of Phrygia disguised as weary, penniless travelers. They went door-to-door, asking for a place to rest and a bite to eat.

A thousand homes turned them away until they reached a tiny, humble hovel made of straw and reeds. This was the home of Baucis, an old woman, and her husband, Philemon. The couple welcomed the strangers with open arms and did everything they could to make their guests comfortable - offering their best of everything.

During the meal, Philemon noticed that the wine pitcher refilled itself every time it was emptied. Realizing they were in the presence of gods, the couple were in awe. Zeus revealed himself, transforming their hut into a palace and offering them a single wish.

Rather than requesting great riches, they asked to never be without each other.

Many years later, as the couple stood on the hillside, they began to grow leaves and bark. As they transformed, they were able to say one final "Farewell" to each other as Baucis became a Linden tree and Philemon became an Oak. The two trees grew from a single trunk, their branches forever intertwined.

Gemini AI generated image of the intertwined perfectly capturing the picture in my mind!