By Mahalya Falls
If Scotland's national animal is a unicorn but the land of the free wanted to stick to the norm and have an eagle as ours. There is no way the American people would object to having metal birds in place of the bald one we have now. The Stymphalian birds are man-eating beasts that have metallic feathers that they would hurl at their victims and beaks made of bronze. Let’s not overlook the fact that their feces are very toxic. If it couldn’t get any worse they’re pets of the Greek god of war, Ares.
Legend has it that the Stymphalian birds migrated to Lake Stymphalia from their original home to escape a pack of wolves. Soon after arriving there they bred quickly and starting terrorizing the countryside, destroying crops and fruit trees and having a feast on the local towns people.
These birds reign of terror would soon be over. Hercules was charged with ridding the countryside of these beat. He did have help. Goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom, saw that Hercules wasn’t quite sure how to drive away the beast so she gave him a pair of krotala (noise making clappers). With these he climbed a near by mountain and banged the kroyala together, scaring the birds out of the trees. When the birds were taking flight Hercules shot the down. Whether he used a bow and arrow or a slingshot is still being questioned.
Most legends say that Hercules was unfortunate in not killing all the monstrosities but they did leave. The surviving birds returned to their master Ares who, no doubt, greeted them with open arms.
Photo Courtesy of: utexas.edu