Halcyone Days and the Kingfisher

Alcyone, the Kingfisher

"Alcyone or Halcyon, daughter of Aeolus, wed King Ceyx of Trachis. It was a blissful marriage, as the two were deeply in love. In fact, they were so happy together that they jokingly addressed each other as Hera and Zeus. Of course, this infuriated the mighty gods, who decided to punish the disrespectful mortals.

A short while later, Ceyx needed to consult the oracle of Apollo, at Delphi, regarding various state matters. He debated about travelling by land, but decided against it, as the roads were infested with brigands at the time. So, he chose to sail.

He promptly announced his decision to Alcyone, who, being afraid of the sea, pleaded with him to reconsider. But Ceyx wouldn't hear a word. Knowing she couldn't dissuade her husband Alcyone asked him to take her along. However, he summarily dismissed the idea. The poor maiden, wept and wept, but Ceyx was determined, so she finally yielded and let him go alone.

Her premonition proved to be true. Not far from the coast, Ceyx's vessel encountered an unprecedented storm and, despite the sailors' frantic efforts, it perished. Ceyx struggled against the fierce waves for hours, until he tired. Sensing he was about to drown, he prayed to Poseidon, asking the sea god to bear his body into his wife's arms.

Meanwhile, Alcyone, unaware of her husband's fate, prayed to Hera for his safety. The powerful goddess pitied her and dispatched Iris to Hypnos, ordering him to inform Alcyone of Ceyx's death. So, Hypnos instructed Morpheus to appear in Alcyone's sleep and relate to her the day's tragic events. That same night, Morpheus, disguised as Ceyx, stood naked before the beautiful girl and told her what had transpired.

Bewildered, Alcyone got out of bed and ran frenziedly to the coast, where she found her revered husband's body among the shipwreck's debris. In distress, she tore her cheeks, hair and garments, and leaped into the dark, frothy waves.

But, before she hit the surf, the gods, admiring her love, devotion and courage, turned her into a beautiful seabird, the Kingfisher. And, as an added bonus, they brought Ceyx to life again, transformed into the same bird.

However, believe it or not, the couple's worries weren't over yet. For Zeus decreed that Alcyone, unlike most birds, would lay her eggs during the winter. But, as Alceone's nest was near the shore, not far from where she had discovered Ceyx's remains, the huge, wintry waves would continuously sweep her eggs and hatchlings into the sea.

Poor Alcyone cried her heart out, and pleaded the father of all mortals and gods for forgiveness. Zeus finally felt sorry for her and gave her 14 days of good weather, in the midst of winter, to incubate her eggs. To date, this spell of fair winter weather is widely known as the "halcyon days," after good old Alcyone or Halcyon. And the Greek people still pay tribute to her sacrifice, by naming the Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, Alcyone."

This is the link to where I got the above story. Who knew the kingfisher was so mystical?
http://www.e-pelion.com/myths_alcyone.html