Alcyone and Ceyx
Alcyone was the daughter of Aeolus, king of the winds. Her marriage to Ceyx was bliss-too happy, in fact. The couple often referred to each other as "Zeus" and "Hera", which naturally infuriated the king and queen of the gods.
Whilst at sea, Zeus hurled a thunderbolt at Ceyx's ship, drowning the man. He appeared before his wife as an apparition, telling her of his fate.
Distraught, Alcyone threw herself into the sea in order to join him. The gods pitied the woeful couple and transformed them into kingfishers.
This may be the origins of "halcyon days", seven days before and after the winter solstice when Aeolus demanded the calm of the seas in honour of the couple.
Our Mobile Application
Check out Our Mobile Application "Ancient Greece Reloaded"