Niobe

Do you know the story of Niobe, character from old greek mythology? Queen Niobe had loving husband, seven beautiful sons and seven beautiful daughters. She was so proud of them that she praised them everywhere and everytime, she even started to boast with them before goddess Leto, saying she got more and nicer children than her. She even banned other people from workshiping Leto. Leto's two children, Apollon and Artemis were angry and decided to revenge their mother. Apollon killed all Niobe's sons. When Niobe's husband found out, he killed himself too. But Niobe shouted at Leto that she still have more daughters than she ever will, so Artemis killed her daughters. Then Niobe realisedshe was wrong and pleeded for life of her youngest daughter. Butit was too late - the arrow already left the bow. Niobe strarted to cry, and cried so long that she turned to mountain.

This story always made me so sad. The punishment is just... so cruel.

Anyway, I made a painting of Niobe as part of my Flowerspeak series.

(pssttt tell no one but her hand is wrong - I will try to fix it)