Alcyone is Ceyx’s wife. She is extremely devoted to her husband and suffers when he leaves her to visit Apollo’s temple. She prays every day for his return, not knowing that he has already died at sea. Juno tires of Alcyone’s prayers and finally sends the image of Ceyx’s ghost to Alcyone in her dreams, thus informing her of her husband’s death. Alcyone goes down to the sea to mourn where she encounters Ceyx’s body floating to shore. She jumps to meet him, and the couple transform into birds.
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Alcyone Character Timeline in Metamorphoses
The timeline below shows where the character Alcyone appears in Metamorphoses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 11: Peleus at the Court of Ceyx (2)
...their men to put on their armor. As they are about to leave, Ceyx’s wife Alcyone runs from her bedroom and begs Ceyx to stay so that he won’t be killed....
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Book 11: Ceyx and Alcyone
...decides to consult an oracle at Apollo’s temple, which is only accessible by sea. When Alcyone hears that her husband is planning to leave on a long sailing trip, she starts...
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Ceyx is moved by Alcyone’s concern, but he is set on his journey. He tells Alcyone that it is too...
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...pray to the heavens, and call out the names of their families. Ceyx thinks of Alcyone and wishes he’d never left her.
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...the gods to no avail. He then prays that the waves carry his body to Alcyone so she can bury him. At last, he is submerged by a wave and doesn’t...
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Back in Trachis, Alcyone has no idea that Ceyx has died. She counts the nights until her husband’s return,...
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...barely open his drowsy eyes. Iris gives Sleep Juno’s message, asking him to appear in Alcyone’s dream disguised as Ceyx’s ghost. Sleep looks around at the various dream gods and chooses...
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That night, Morpheus floats to Trachis and stands at the foot of Alcyone’s bed, disguised as Ceyx’s ghost. He whispers into Alcyone’s ear, crying and telling her of...
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Alcyone wakes up and runs into the next room to look for Ceyx. When she doesn’t...
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The next morning, Alcyone goes to the seashore. She reminisces about the last time she saw Ceyx when he...
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Book 11: Aesacus
An old man watches two birds—formerly Alcyone and Ceyx—circle over the sea. Another man draws his attention to a bird skimming the...
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