Niobe

Niobe was the queen of Thebes and the wife of Amphion. She was very proud of her children, as she had fourteen beautiful and strong children - seven sons and seven daughters. Niobe was so proud of her children that she began to become arrogant and boast about them.

Arrogance

One day, Niobe mocked Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, saying that she had more children and that she should be more respected than Leto. Leto, hurt by Niobe's arrogance, asked her children, Apollo and Artemis, to punish her

Apollo and Artemis, with their divine abilities, came down to earth and punished Niobe for her arrogance. Apollo with his golden arrows killed all of Niobe's sons,

and Artemis with her silver arrows killed all her daughters. Niobe was left alone, full of grief and pain for the loss of her children.

Request

Mourning her loss, Niobe begged the gods to release her from her pain. The gods, showing mercy, turned her to stone

Stone

This stone was located on Mount Shipylos and from it tears flowed endlessly, a symbol of Niobe's eternal sorrow.