Iphis-The Unnatural Love SUMMARY ODE MORPH The Myth of Iphis and Ianthe In the story of Iphis and Ianthe, it all begins when a farmer Ligdus and his wife telethusa were expecting a child. Ligdus, wanting a son, told his wife he only wanted two things: that his wife has little pain when she delivers, and that her child must be a boy. If the child was a girl, they would put her to death. Both of them were sobbing as he gave this command, but he wanted a son and only a son. As the time of birth drew near, telethusa had a visit from Isis in her dreams. Isis commanded her to keep the child either way, and raise the girl in secret if it was a girl. Telethusa gave birth to a girl, but because Ligdus was not there at the time of birth, she gave the girl to the nurse to take care of him, the nurse being the only other person knowing of the girl being one. Ligdus named the baby after his grandfather, Iphis. Telethusa liked this name because it was not a gender specific name. When Iphis was thirteen, she was promised to marry Ianthe, the daughter of a Cretan named Telestes. Ianthe was known to be a girl of unparalleled beauty and loveliness. So they both longed for each other and loved each other, but Iphis was confused. She did not want to love another woman, and hated how she loved her. She did not understand how such a love could happen between two women. Ianthe, however, still expected to be marrying a man. Telethusa continually delayed the wedding for one excuse or another, all the while trying to find a way out of this predicament she’s in. The day before the wedding, Iphis and Telethusa went to the temple if Isis for one last desperate prayer. As they were leaving the temple, they received several good omens that left them feeling confident that their payer was answered. non secura quidem, fausto omine laeta mater abit templo: sequiter comes iphis euntem, quam solita est, maiore gradu, nec candor in ore permanet, et vires augentur, et acrior ipse est vultus, et incomptis brevior mensura capillis, plusque vigoris adest, habuit quam femina. Nam quae femina nuper eras, puer es. “the certain girl not carefree, however with lucky omens the happy mother left the temple: Iphis is following the going one, as she is accustomed,but with a bigger stride, the brightness on her face does not stay, her strength is increased, her face is sharper, her messy hair is shorter, more vigor is present, than a woman would have. For that which was recently a woman, is a boy.” As they stepped out, Iphis turned into a man, and was at last able to marry Ianthe. art interpretations with my analysis This one shows Iphis and Telethusa praying to Isis to turn Iphis into a boy. I would suspect that the artist is trying to depict how they prayed and prayed and prayed, and were at last answered by the Goddess herself. The artist was also trying to convey the fact that the god decided to bless Iphis by actually granting a big prayer like the request of changing the gender of Iphis. (engraving by Bauer, 1703) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bauer_-_Isis_Iphis.jpg This art depicts Isis and her accompaniment of other gods meeting Telethusa in her bed, telling her to save her child and raise it, regardless of the gender. I feel that the artist is depicting just how the gods looked at Telethusa with pity, honestly wanting to help her in her predicament. I also think that Isis is extending her hand to show that this is a test of Telethusa’s faith to the gods; if she follows the orders, she will prove her faith, but if she follows her husband’s orders, then she proved she does not trust the gods so much. (Picart, 1703) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Picart_-_Isis_Telethusa.jpg Create a free website Powered by Create your own free website Start your own free website A surprisingly easy drag & drop site creator. Learn more.