Okay, I *love* Psyche stories. I just had to join after reading the wonderful notion of Kate cast in the role of Psyche. Anyways, here's the version of Psyche's story that I remember: Once upon a time, a beautiful maiden came of age in some ancient Greek city, and as was the custom in the day her parents took her to the Oracle of Delphi for her Prophesy in the matter of Love. The word from the Oracle wasn't good: "Psyche, you are to meet your Doom at the top of the mountain seven days hence." Well, her parents and sisters were certain that some monster would devour her at the mountaintop, but Psyche was undeterred. "I will trust in my Fate," she would say to the consternation of all who loved her. And after seven days, she followed through and climbed the mountain. Well, word had spread to none other than Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love and all that, that a mortal woman of unsurpassed beauty was climbing the mountain to marry her Doom. So Venus arranged for her son Cupid to pierce Psyche with one of his loving arrows so that she would not fear but wholly embrace and love her fated one. Dutifully Cupid obeyed, but when he saw Psyche at the mountaintop he was so taken by her charms that he accidentally pricked himself and of course became smitten. After she finally took her sleep, Cupid whisked her off to Paradise. When Psyche awoke, she discovered that all she could ever wish for came true in Paradise - the finest fruits, the cleanest water, the softest silks. At night she was led to her bedchamber, a room with no windows or light. There she met her fated one, who explained that everything she could ever want or need would be found in Paradise, but she had to follow one simple rule: She could never gaze upon the face of her new lover. Psyche was more than okay with this, but after many weeks she longed to see family again. She arranged for her sisters to visit. Well, they had other ideas about this arrangement. "Oh Psyche, he must be some horrible beast not to let you see him," they whispered to her. After they left, sometimes she would still hear their whispers, even during the throes of her passionate nightly lovemaking. One evening, while her lover slept, Psyche could bear it no more. She had to know. She lit the oil lamp that she used to find her way to the bedchamber every night, and saw the god Cupid. So struck was she by his beauty that she let slip a drop of hot oil from the lamp, which of course found her lover's skin. Cupid awoke, sadly, and asked, "Why?" Psyche replied, "I had to know." And then all turned black. When she awoke, Paradise was gone. All around her she saw nothing but wilderness. No high castle walls, no fine silks, no precious lover. Psyche despaired, wandering aimlessly, until she found a river. "I have no hope, no reason to live without my Love," she wailed, "so I might as well throw myself in the current and be done with it." But as she readied to make her plunge, she heard on the slight breeze a faint note. Pausing, she listened, and heard coming closer the unmistakable sound of a pan pipe. Turning away from the river, she saw an old man-creature still young, with cloven hoofs and horns. Pan spoke. "Psyche, you have other choices besides casting yourself away. Even now you can return to your home. You will be welcomed as the lovely priestess you are, to choose any man you want, and live out your days knowing only the warmest hearth and home." Psyche would have none of it. "If I cannot see my Love's face again, I'd rather not live. Pray tell me, sweet Pan, is there any way I can see his divine light again?" Pan furrowed his brow, frowned, and said, "Your covenant has been broken, and no more can a mere mortal see such a god again. Only a goddess could meet him now..." Pan paused, remembering the lay of the land, and continued, "There is one who might be able to help, but it is the slimmest of hopes. Up this river is a temple made for the mighty goddess Venus. Pray to her that you may become her dedicant. If - and it's a big if - she hears your plea, she will set you upon many deadly tasks... but you are still but a young maiden! No, Psyche, I implore you - go home." Well, you just know that our headstrong Psyche went upriver and found the temple of Venus. For seven days and nights she prayed and supplicated herself, and sure enough Venus answered and took in Psyche. The first task she set upon Psyche was to sort a ten-foot high pile of seeds and pebbles. "I need these sorted by daybreak," Venus instructed, "or you will die." As the night wore on, Psyche realized that she could only do so much, and decided to take a short rest. But she slept through the night. Yet when she awoke, the seeds were sorted. Next, Psyche was to weave a golder cloak from the Golden Rams, seen only at sunset. She followed the sun day and night, but could not catch up with it. Eventually a lake came between her and the West, but she took a reed and fashioned a way to breath while making her way through the lake. Then and only then did she discover that while under water, she could catch and weave the golden thread-rays of the Golden Rams. Then Psyche was set to fill Chalice of Venus from the very source of the River Styx. Untiringly, Psyche climbed the mountain from which the river came and filled this Grail. Venus then set her to the most daunting task yet. "Psyche," she said, "Go to the Underworld and retreive for me the beauty cream from Persephone, the Queen of that realm." Psyche made her way into the Underworld, and though she felt for all the poor souls she encountered down there, she realized that if she started tending to them she would never complete her quest. Begging Persephone, she obtained the beauty cream and returned to the surface. "My dear Psyche," Venus said at her return, "I can't believe you made it! After all I've put you through. I'm really astounded. Just hand over the cream and your quest will be fulfilled." But Psyche had had enough. "No," she said. "I've done everything for you, but this was just too much. This beauty cream is mine." Psyche opened the jar, and the tiniest of vapors emerged. Psyche breathed, and died. Finally, she saw her lover again. And that is the story of the first mortal to become a Goddess. jane