One day Actaeon was hunting with his comrades in the forests of Cithaeron. It was a hot afternoon. The tired hunters settled down to rest in the shade of a dense forest, and young Actaeon, separating from them, went to seek coolness in the valleys of Cithaeron. He went out to the green, flowering valley of Gargafia, dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Plane trees, myrtles and firs grew luxuriantly in the valley; Slender cypress trees rose on it like dark arrows, and the green grass was full of flowers. A transparent stream gurgled in the valley. Silence, peace and coolness reigned everywhere. In the steep slope of the mountain, Actaeon saw a lovely grotto, all entwined with greenery. He went to this grotto, not knowing that the grotto often serves as a resting place for the daughter of Zeus, Artemis.
When Actaeon approached the grotto, Artemis had just entered there. She gave the bow and arrows to one of the nymphs and prepared to bathe. The nymphs took off the goddess’s sandals, tied her hair in a knot, and were about to go to the stream to scoop up some cold water, when Actaeon appeared at the entrance to the grotto. The nymphs cried out loudly when they saw Actaeon enter. They surrounded Artemis, they want to hide her from mortal sight. Just as the rising sun lights up the clouds with purple fire, so the goddess’s face glowed with anger, her eyes sparkled with anger, and she became even more beautiful. Artemis was angry that Actaeon had disturbed her peace; in anger, Artemis turned the unfortunate Actaeon into a slender deer.
Branched horns grew on Actaeon's head. The legs and arms turned into the legs of a deer. His neck stretched out, his ears became pointed, and spotted fur covered his entire body. The timid deer took off in a hasty flight. Actaeon saw his reflection in the stream. He wants to exclaim: “Oh, grief!” - but he is speechless. Tears rolled from his eyes—but from the eyes of a deer. Only the human mind remained with him. What should he do? Where to run?
Actaeon's dogs sensed the scent of a deer; They did not recognize their owner and rushed after him with furious barking.
Through the valleys along the gorges of Kiferon, along the rapids of the mountains, through forests and fields, a beautiful deer rushed like the wind, throwing branchy antlers on its back, and dogs rushed after it. The dogs were getting closer and closer, so they overtook him, and their sharp teeth dug into the body of the unfortunate Actaeon the deer. Actaeon wants to shout: “Oh, have mercy! After all, it is I, Actaeon, your master!” - but only a groan escapes from the deer’s chest, and in this groan the sound of a man’s voice is heard. The deer Actaeon fell to his knees. Sorrow, horror and prayer are visible in his eyes. Death is inevitable - furious dogs tear his body apart.
Actaeon’s comrades who arrived in time regretted that he was not with them during such a happy catch. The marvelous deer was hunted down by dogs. Actaeon’s comrades did not know who this deer was. This is how Actaeon died, disturbing the peace of the goddess Artemis, the only mortal who saw the heavenly beauty of the daughter of the thunderer Zeus and Latona.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru