Once upon a time in Thessaly, there was a princess named Mestra who found herself far from home. Her father, King Erysichthon, had made some terrible choices that led to his downfall. In a desperate attempt to save himself, he sold Mestra to the highest bidder. But Mestra was determined not to accept this fate. When she found a moment alone, she began to plan her escape.
Months before, King Erysichthon decided he wanted a new hall and insisted on using the finest wood. Known for ignoring the gods, he was more interested in glorifying himself. He led his men into the sacred grove of Demeter, the goddess of food and agriculture, ignoring the offerings that hung from the trees. He aimed for the most magnificent oak, and as he struck it with his axe, the tree trembled. Blood flowed from the wound, and a cry echoed through the grove. It was the voice of a wood nymph who lived in the tree, calling out to Demeter for revenge. Unfazed, Erysichthon destroyed the forest and took the wood back to his palace.
When Demeter learned of the destruction, she was furious. She quickly sent a mountain nymph to seek help from another goddess. The nymph traveled in a dragon-drawn chariot over barren lands and icy seas until she reached the lair of Hunger, the goddess of famine. Hunger was known for her constant state of starvation, and she eagerly accepted Demeter’s plan for revenge. Under the cover of night, Hunger crept into the palace and breathed her famished breath onto the sleeping king.
Erysichthon dreamed of a grand feast, but when he awoke, he was consumed by an insatiable hunger. He devoured all the food in the palace and demanded more from the city. Yet, no matter how much he ate, he felt empty and weak. Eventually, he sold everything he owned for food, leaving only Mestra by his side. But even she couldn’t escape his greed, and he sold her into slavery.
As Mestra sailed away with her captor, she gazed at the sea, recalling how she had once been pursued by the god Poseidon. In desperation, she called upon him for help. As an act of repentance, Poseidon granted her the power to change her shape at will. Mestra transformed into a fisherman, distracted her captor with a bounty of fish, and escaped. For the first time, she was in control, able to adapt and slip away from any situation. Yet, she felt compelled to return to her father.
When Erysichthon discovered Mestra’s new powers, he saw only an opportunity for himself. He exploited her abilities, selling her repeatedly for food. Each time, Mestra transformed into different creatures—a mare, a bird, or a deer—to evade capture. But as her father continued to sell her at higher prices, Mestra’s hope dwindled.
One day, Mestra returned home in one of her many forms to find the palace empty and her father lifeless. Erysichthon’s hunger had grown so intense that he had consumed his own limbs. Seeing her father’s fate, Mestra’s hope was renewed. She was free from the wrath of the gods that her father had brought upon them. With her ability to transform and no longer tied to her father’s selfish desires, Mestra was finally free.
Illustrate the story of Demeter’s revenge by creating a comic strip. Focus on key moments like Erysichthon’s disrespect, Demeter’s anger, and Mestra’s transformation. Use your creativity to bring the myth to life, and share your comic with the class.
In groups, choose characters from the myth and act out a scene. You could portray the moment Erysichthon cuts down the sacred tree or Mestra’s escape. Focus on expressing the emotions and motivations of each character. Afterward, discuss how it felt to embody these roles.
Imagine you are Mestra or Erysichthon. Write a diary entry from their perspective, describing their thoughts and feelings during a pivotal moment in the story. Consider how they might justify their actions or express their fears and hopes.
Inspired by Mestra’s ability to transform, design your own mythological creature. Describe its powers, appearance, and how it might fit into the world of Greek mythology. Present your creature to the class and explain its significance.
Hold a class debate on the moral lessons of the myth. Discuss themes such as respect for nature, the consequences of hubris, and the power of transformation. Take a stance on whether Erysichthon deserved his fate and what Mestra’s journey teaches us.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Mestra, Princess of Thessaly, was far from home. She had watched her father, King Erysichthon, plunge into a ruin of his own making. To save himself, he sold his own daughter to the highest bidder. But Mestra refused to accept this fate. Finding herself momentarily alone, she began to plan her escape.
Months earlier, Erysichthon had decided to build himself a new hall, declaring that only the finest wood would suffice. The king was known for spurning the gods, as he was more interested in honoring himself. In an act of disrespect, he marched his men into the sacred grove of Demeter, goddess of food and agriculture. Ignoring the prayer offerings that hung from the trees, Erysichthon headed straight for the most magnificent oak. As he swung his axe, the tree trembled. Blood gushed from the wound, and a cry rang out. It was the voice of one of Demeter’s wood nymphs who resided in the tree. With her last breaths, she called out to her patron for revenge. Erysichthon, though, was unfazed. He decimated the rest of the forest and dragged the wood back to his palace.
Upon learning of the loss and destruction, Demeter quaked with anger. Swiftly, she ordered a mountain nymph to enlist the help of another goddess. In a dragon-drawn chariot, the mountain nymph soared over barren lands and icy seas. At last, she reached the remote lair of Hunger, goddess of famine. She found her picking through weeds, clutching her hollow stomach and twisting her limbs. Not daring to come too close, the nymph called for Hunger and shared Demeter’s vengeful plan. Hunger usually kept to her lair, but she relished this mission. Under the cover of night, she crept into the palace and released her famished breath into the sleeping king.
Erysichthon immediately began to dream of a lavish feast, gulping air and grinding his teeth. He awoke to a ravenous hunger, which only seemed to increase as he ate. As Mestra looked on in horror, her father devoured all the food in the palace, before calling for the city’s crops and goods. But no matter how many feasts he devoured, he felt empty and weak. Before long, Erysichthon had sold his entire estate for food—with only Mestra left by his side. But not even his loyal daughter could escape the depths of his greed, and he shamelessly sold her into slavery.
As she set sail with her captor, Mestra stared at the sea. This wasn’t the first time she’d suffered at the hands of men—years before, she’d been pursued and assaulted by the god Poseidon. Now, she demanded his help. As an act of repentance, Poseidon granted her the power to change her shape at will. With this, Mestra immediately transformed into a fisherman. Distracting her captor with a bounty of fish, she escaped. For the first time, Mestra was in control, able to adapt and slip away from any situation. But she felt compelled to return to her father.
However, when Erysichthon discovered Mestra’s new powers, he only saw an opportunity for himself. He exploited his talented daughter, selling her again and again for food. Each time, she gracefully transformed herself—morphing into a swift-footed mare, a soaring bird, or an elusive deer to steal more meals while evading capture. But as her father continued to sell her at higher prices, Mestra was left with little hope.
One day, when arriving home in one of her many forms, Mestra entered the hollow palace only to discover the king’s lifeless body—Erysichthon’s hunger had grown so great that he had consumed his own limbs. Gazing upon her wasted father, Mestra’s hope returned. She was no longer burdened with the wrath of the gods that the king had courted. Untethered from her father’s selfish agenda and buoyed by her ability to transform herself at will, Mestra was finally free.
Demeter – In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over grains and the fertility of the earth. – In the myth, Demeter’s grief over her daughter Persephone’s abduction caused the earth to become barren.
Hunger – A strong desire or need for food, often used metaphorically in literature to describe a longing or craving for something. – In the novel, the protagonist’s hunger for knowledge drives him to explore the forbidden library.
Mestra – In Greek mythology, Mestra is a daughter of Erysichthon who had the ability to change her shape to escape slavery. – Mestra’s transformation abilities allowed her to evade capture and help her father, despite his insatiable hunger.
King – A male monarch or ruler of a kingdom, often depicted in literature as a figure of authority and power. – The king’s decision to go to war was met with both support and opposition from his advisors.
Revenge – The action of inflicting harm or punishment on someone in return for a wrong or injury suffered at their hands. – Hamlet’s quest for revenge against his uncle is a central theme in Shakespeare’s play.
Escape – The act of breaking free from confinement or control, often used in literature to symbolize freedom or liberation. – The prisoners plotted their escape from the fortress, hoping to regain their freedom.
Gods – In mythology, gods are supernatural beings with divine powers, often worshipped and revered by humans. – The ancient Greeks believed that the gods lived on Mount Olympus and controlled the fate of mortals.
Palace – A large and stately residence, especially one that is the official home of a king, queen, or other exalted person. – The palace was adorned with magnificent tapestries and golden chandeliers, reflecting the wealth of the kingdom.
Transformation – A thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance, often used in literature to signify personal growth or change. – The transformation of the main character from a timid youth to a confident leader was inspiring.
Slavery – The state of being a slave, where individuals are owned by others and deprived of personal freedom. – The novel depicted the harsh realities of slavery and the struggle for freedom and equality.
