Mercury came to Athens seeking Herse, the fairest of Cecrops' three daughters, and tried to bribe the jealous middle sister Aglauros with gold — but Envy, sent by Minerva, filled Aglauros with spite until she blocked the god's path and was turned to black stone for her impiety.1
The sisters of Cecrops
On the Acropolis dwelt Pandrosos, Aglauros, and Herse between them — daughters of the earth-born king, devoted to Minerva's praise. Mercury, flying down from heaven on his way to a mission for Jove, saw Herse and burned to possess her. Aglauros was first to spy the god and ask his name and errand.2
The golden bribe
Mercury offered Aglauros gold if she would let him pass to Herse. Minerva, still angry that Aglauros had opened the chest where Erichthonius lay hidden with the serpent, sent Envy from the house of Pluto to poison the sister's heart. Aglauros grew green with spite and swelled with hidden rage.3
Stone
When Mercury came again Aglauros sat in the doorway and refused him entry, though he pleaded and doubled the gold. At last the god touched her with his wand; she felt her limbs grow stiff, her veins turn marble, and her tongue freeze in her mouth. Envy left her body, and Aglauros became a black statue seated on the threshold.4
· EXEUNT ·
How the centuries saw it
In play
Metamorphoses
Ovid
Book II stages Mercury's bribe, Minerva's Envy, and Aglauros turned to stone — the jealous sister who bars the god from her sibling Herse.
Aglaurus, daughter of Cecrops
Cecrops' middle daughter remains Ovid's emblem of envy punished — the Athenian princess who opens Pandora's box of spite and ends as rock.
Herse
The fairest Cecropid Mercury sought — Herse's beauty and Aglauros' gatekeeping keep the Athenian sisters paired in reception.