Some stories live forever. From Shakespeare’s star crossed lovers to the intimate incidences of fleeting affectionate affairs, we have come very far in terms of love stories. Some of them become attached to our cultures, sang for centuries waiting to re-written. Sometimes they are awfully tragic leaving tears of grief in our eyes, other times they make us smile when two lovers finally unite at the end. Here are 7 unforgettable love stories.
Pyramus and Thisbe (Babylon)
The legend of Pyramus and Thisbe comes from Ovid’s Metamorphosis. They are both neighbours since childhood, spending a lot of their time growing up together. When they reach youth, they fall in love with each other. Yet, their families are against their union. They both decide to run away from home and meet in the field nearby. Thisbe arrives first and is met by a lioness with bloodied teeth, in fear she flees leaving her cloak behind. Upon his arrival, Pyramus is met with a lioness with Thisbe’s cloak between her teeth. Convinced of the death of his lover, he kills himself by falling on his sword splashing blood on white mulberry fruits. When Thisbe returns she laments at the sight and kills herself. In honour of their love god colours all mulberry fruits red, symbolizing their forbidden love.
Henry II and Rosamund (England)
Rosamund Clifford was a fair lady, adopted by Henry II of England as his mistress. He loved her greatly and wanted to protect this affair from his wife, Queen Eleanor. He hid the innermost recesses of a complicated maze which he caused to be made in his park at Woodstock, Oxfordshire. However, Eleanor found her way to her and made Rosamund choose between a dagger and a bowl of poison. She chose the latter and died. Her death was remembered at Hereford Cathedral on 6 July, the same day as that of the king 13 years later.
Achilles and Patroclus (Greece)
In legends, Achilles was the son of Thetis. He was immortal except for his heel. Patroclus on the other hand was an exiled prince who finds himself in the palace of Achilles’ father. They fall in love and when the war of Troy finally arrives they both join the battle. After 10 years of war, Achilles was insulted by King Agamemnon over a battle for loot distribution. Achilles swears that when the Greeks will need him the most, he shall isolate them and refused to join the war again. After his withdrawal from the battle, Greeks began to lose. When the defeat turned unbearable, his comrades begged Achilles to return only for him to refuse. Patroclus decides to wear Achilles’ armour and join the battle under his ruse and is killed by Hector. Achilles laments his death, kills Hector in cold blood and follows Patroclus is death.
Tristan and Iseult (Europe)
There are many version of the legend. Generally, Tristan was asked to fetch Iseult for his uncle King Mark. However, on their way back, they both drink a love potion, in some version they do it accidentally in others Iseult intentionally gives to Tristan. They fall in love and while Iseult marries King Mark, they both continue to seek each other out. When Tristan is playing the harp for Iseult, Mark attacks and mortally injures him. He dies and Iseult dies swooning over his corpse. They are buried separately and according to one legend, it is stated that a thick bramble briar grows out of Tristan’s grave, growing so much that it forms a bower and roots itself into Iseult’s grave. It goes on that King Mark tries to have the branches cut three separate times, and each time the branches grow back and intertwine. However, there are many version of this tale each more different than the last but sweet none the less.
Layla and Majnu
Majnu, the legend was so popular that even today lovers are referred to as “majnu” yet none are worthy of his name. Qaes falls in love with a beautiful, fair lady Layla. He tried night and day to woo her, writes poetry in her name. She is however married off to another king leaving Qaes or as people called him Majnu dishevelled. He gave up his home and walked in forests reciting poetry to himself and writing on sand. He was later found dead near Layla’s grave. He had carved three verses of poetry on a rock near the grave, which are the last three verses attributed to him. Their influence still impacts literature and they have become immortal lovers credited to Qaes himself.
