Itylus

Itylus was, in Greek mythology, the son of Procne, daughter of King Pandion of Athens, and Tereus, King of Thrace.

The story of Itylus is a tragic and gruesome one, often interpreted as a cautionary tale about revenge and the abuse of power. Tereus, after marrying Procne, tricked and raped her sister, Philomela. He then cut out Philomela's tongue to prevent her from revealing his crime. Philomela, however, wove a tapestry depicting the assault and sent it to Procne.

Procne, filled with rage and seeking revenge, killed her own son, Itylus. She then cooked him into a meal and served him to Tereus. After Tereus unknowingly consumed his own son, Procne and Philomela revealed the truth.

The gods, horrified by the events, intervened and transformed all three characters into birds. Tereus became a hoopoe, Procne a swallow (or sometimes a nightingale), and Philomela a nightingale (or sometimes a swallow). The lamenting cry of the nightingale is often associated with Philomela's suffering, and the repetitive call of the hoopoe (said to sound like "pou? pou?" - "where? where?") is sometimes interpreted as Tereus constantly searching for his son.

The myth of Itylus is a recurring theme in classical literature and art, representing the depths of human suffering, the destructive nature of revenge, and the consequences of unchecked power. Different versions of the myth vary slightly in details, but the core elements of betrayal, violence, and transformation remain consistent.