Alcyone and her husband Kiika believed themselves to be the gods Zeus and Hera. When Zeus grew furious at their arrogance, he drowned Kiika and caused Alcyone to throw herself into the sea in grief. Seeing their love, Zeus took pity and transformed them into kingfisher birds so they could continue their lives together. He also created sunny winter days in January to help the kingfishers.

2. Alcyone lived happily with
her husband Kiika by the sea.
They were so happy together that
they believed that they were the Gods
Zeus and Hera!!

3. My Zeus!!
Hera, my
Goddess!
Aha! I’ll show
you now!
But of course,
Zeus became furious!!

4. I’ll give you a
lesson, fool
mortals!!
Help!!
And as Kiika was drowning,
Alcyone threw herself
into the sea to die with him!!

5. Seeing this, Zeus was touched
and decided to spare their lives...
I’m turning you
into Alcyone birds
(kingfisher birds)
Who’ s this
blue guy!
Who’ s
that blue
hen!

6. so you’ll be able
to lay your eggs!
Moreover, Zeus decided to help them a
little bit more…
He let some sunny days
during January,..
I wish it will soon
get warm!!
Alcyone, please
have hope!!

7. Sun, at last!!
Kingfisher-bird
days!!
Finally, our
punishment
ended!!!

8. This ancient fable
also explains why
there are sunny days
in the heart of winter,
in January.
So, this ancient fable explains why
there are sunny days
in the heart of winter,
in January...

9. …but mainly it shows how
Zeus punished
the arrogance
of the mortals,
although the power
of their love
made him
pity them in the end.

10. The ancient Greeks
used the myth
of Alcyone
to say another apothegm,
too….

11. That’s
why it lays
its eggs on steep
rocks at the seafront.
is
It
afraid
of the
hunters!
Alcyone is a lonely bird that
lives by the sea.

12. One day, when she was just to lay
her eggs, she saw a sea-rock and
decided to lay her eggs there.
Then she flew away to get
some food for her chicks.

13. Everything went fine until the moment
the sea got rough and a strong wind caused
such high waves that
her little ones were drowned!!

14. As soon as mother Alcyone came back
to her nest and saw it floating in the sea,
she realized what had happened.
Alas,
the unfortunate me!
I tried to protect us from the land
and its dangers, so
I resorted to the sea
which has been proved much
more untrustworthy!

15. So some people
who keep themselves
away from their enemies,
are cheated by bad
friends!!