Bausic & Philemon

What bausically happened in this myth was that Jupiter and one of his many sons decided to go wandering around, pretending to be homeless. They arrive at a village in the middle of nowhere, and knock on everybody's door, seeking help. However, it's the middle of the night, the villagers are asleep, and they have absolutely no desire to open their home to absolute strangers who could be murderers or rapers, and no one answers.

Eventually they get to the house of Bausic and Philemon, an old couple that feeds and entertain the gods (although they don't know what they are). However, their suspicion is roused when they notice that their wine bottle keeps filling up of it's own accord. Realizing who they're entertaining, they fall to their knees and beg for the gods' forgiveness for not treating them better.

However, Jupiter and son thank them for their hospitality, for they were the only ones to invite them in their house, and drown the rest of the village to punish them.

I would like to comment on that. Those villagers were probably their family, friends, and the only people they'd known their whole lives. Yet, apart from being "horrified," for a second, they show absolutely no outrage, anger, etc. that their only friends were murdered just like that. They are simply pleased that Jupiter turns their house into a temple and make them priests, without a hint of bitterness for the meaningless massacre of at least forty people.

Why is it that gods can get away with things like that? First of all, why were those Greek and Roman gods even worshiped? When someone worships someone else, it means that that person has something that the worshiper admires, think is extremely good. Little Jimmy doesn't love his uncle Billy because he's an absolute scoundrel that should burn in hell, but because he's handsome and kind and funny. The Greek/Roman gods and goddesses had absolutely no value for human life, had probably never heard of "self control," had to have everything go their way, stole, cheated, were unfaithful husbands, and turned people they didn't like into trees, yet the Greeks still thought they were an admirable set of people that deserved to be praised day and night. They must have had some pretty messed up morals (although, in their defense, if the result of not treating them with proper respect was to be turned into a spider, I would be only too willing to kneel before their statues). The Christians, for example, believe in a God that is all-knowing, extremely kind, forgiving, and gentle. If you slapped Jesus, he would offer you his other cheek. If you slapped Zeus, he would turn you into a hot dog and eat you.

Just something that really annoys me about Greek mythology.