In Greek mythology, Halcyone and Ceyx were lovers who incurred the wrath of the god Zeus by mocking him and his wife. Angered, Zeus killed Ceyx. Morpheus, the god of dreams, told Halcyone of his fate and in her grief she threw herself into the sea. Compassionately, the gods changed them both into common kingfishers, or “halcyon birds”, named after her. The term, “halcyon days”,comes form the same story, Halcyone’s father Aeolus, god of the winds restrained the storms for seven days either side of the winter solace so Halcyone could make her nest and lay her eggs in safety.
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©Daniel Mackie