Pyramus and Thisbe
by Karmehlia Eubanks
Two mortals lived next door to each other in Babylon. Pyramus was said to be the most handsome man and Thisbe the most beautiful girl in all the East. They became friends and then began to love each other. They wanted to marry each other, but their parents wouldn't let them marry. The only communication they had with one another was through a crack in their walls. They also kissed the walls at night when it was time to say goodnight.
One day they decided to meet each other at a secret place. When Thisbe arrived there alone she saw a lioness whose mouth was dripping with blood from eating her prey. Thisbe then ran into a dark cave nearby and she dropped her scarf right outside the cave. Then the lion picked up Thisbe's scarf.
When Pyramus arrived and saw this, he thought Thisbe had been eaten by the lioness. He chased the lioness away and came back by their meeting place, which was by the mulberry tree. He took his sword and killed himself because he thought Thisbe had been eaten. His blood squirted out all over the Mulberry tree. After a while Thisbe came out of the cave. Seeing Pyramus laying there dead, she too took his sword and stabbed herself. Her blood was also sprayed all over the mulberry trees. In accordance with her wishes, the remains of the two lovers rest together in a single urn.
Source Book: Myths of Greeks and Romans
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