Top 10 Tuesdays

Top 10 Beautiful Love Stories from Ancient Mythology!

Mythology is a word that peaks my interest every time. I love reading stories from various classical mythological texts. Indian, Greek and Egyptian mythology especially have always been on top of my list.

So when it came to picking a topic for my Top 10 feature this week, I decided to go with the romantic stories from ancient mythology. I did not want to put together a list that was common and most popular, I wanted to share the stories that have been special for me, the ones to which I developed a strong affinity.

I hope you enjoy reading about my Top 10 all-time favorite love stories from ancient mythology!

  1. Urmila and Lakshman – Indian Mythology

LFiwfI always find myself being drawn to the characters whose stories are blindsided by the main characters. Ramayana belongs to Ram and Sita. Of course Lakshman is also one of the central characters in the epic, but he is known for his undeniable loyalty for his brother Ram, not for his love story. The entire epic speaks volumes of Ram’s undying love for Sita and vice versa. However, there is one chapter in the epic that is devoted to Lakshman and Urmila. The chapter beautifully describes their love in its purest form! And it goes on to describe Urmila’s unparalleled sacrifice!

  1. Osiris and Isis – Egyptian Mythology

osirisOsiris, son of Earth and Sky, was the husband-brother of Isis, Goddess of the Earth and Moon. Theirs is the most influential and elaborate myths from ancient Egyptian mythology. The story of how Isis unwaveringly searches and finds the parts of Osiris after Set cuts him into fourteen pieces, and how she rejoins the fragments and restores the God to eternal life with the first use of the rites of embalmment is an awe-inspiring one!

  1. Psyche and Cupid – Greek Mythology

cupid-and-psycheThe tale of Psyche and Cupid is placed at the midpoint of Apuleius’s novel. Psyche gains the wrath of Goddess Venus, who commissions Cupid to work her revenge. Cupid instead falls in love with the beautiful Psyche. A beautiful tale of sacrifice, of violations, of trust, of trials and of immortal love!

  1. Sakuntala and Dushyanta – Indian Mythology

shakuntala-dushyanta-ER06_lThe thrilling story of Sakuntala and Dushyanta is immortalized by Indian poet, Kalidasa in the epic Mahabharata. Theirs is a tale of true love at first sight, to be separated by destiny only to be reunited for their share of happily ever after!

  1. Eurydice and Orpheus – Greek Mythology

Orpheus-EurydiceThe ancient legend concerns the fateful and tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice. This is another tale of love that is lost. Orpheus tries everything he could to bring Eurydice back into his life but his lack of trust in the Gods makes him lose Eurydice forever!

  1. Helen and Paris – Greek Mythoogy

paris-and-helenAccording to Greek mythology, the love between Paris and Helen provoked the downfall of Troy. The story of the Trojan prince Paris and his love for the most beautiful woman Helen of Sparta who, however, was married to King Menelaus. Paris went to Sparta and took Helen to Troy by which he triggered the Trojan War. Paris was mortally wounded during the fall of Troy, while Helen returned to her husband in Sparta.

  1. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony – Egyptian Mythology

niteThe love between the Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra and Mark Antony went into history for their tragic end. Both committed suicide after they were defeated by the Romans under Octavian. After Mark Antony’s suicide, Cleopatra tried to negotiate with Octavian. According to most sources, she killed herself by inducing an asp to bite her when she realized that she cannot “charm” Octavian. Cleopatra and Mark Antony are said to be buried together but the location of their tomb remains a mystery!

  1. Aphrodite and Adonis – Greek Mythology

aphrodite-adonis-01The myth of Adonis and Aphrodite is popular for it is directly associated with love, lust and rejection between the Goddess of Love and Lust and the handsome mortal Adonis. There are actually two known myths about Adonis and Aphrodite. The first myth refers to Adonis’ early years, and the second to his death and Aphrodite’s role in it!

  1. Vishwamitra and Menaka – Indian Mythology

Vishwamitra and MenakaThe beautiful Menaka, the celestial nymph, was especially brought from heaven by Indra, the king of the Gods, to distract and seduce the sage Vishwamitra and break his severe meditative penance which was threatening the three worlds—heaven, earth and hell. She did, but only to fall in love with him as well. They got married but not to live happily ever after…!

  1. Iseult and Tristan – Celtic Legend

tristan-and-iseultLove story of Tristan and Iseult is thought to be inspired by an older Celtic legend. There are several versions of the story about the adulterous lovers. Their story ends with Tristan dying of despair, convinced that Iseult does not want to come to him, while Iseult dies of grief after finding her lover dead!

A Single Mother with an unbreakable passion to Live the Life! I am a Writer/Author by passion and an IT Project Manager by profession. I am also the voice of Artemis at In The Pantheon - a multi-author collaborative writing project. When not hunting as Artemis, I am busy querying agents and working on my multiple writing projects. Women Empowerment and Child Rights Advocate.

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