It is a base thing for the countenance to be obedient and to regulate and compose itself as the mind commands, and for the mind not to be regulated and composed itself. Marcus Aurelius quoting Antisthenes. Meditations. Book 7.
Image: Portrait of Anna Pitt as Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods, 1792 by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun.
Note: In Eurpides' play Heracleidae, a name referring to the descendants of Heracles, Iolaus, an old friend of Heracles and charged with protecting his descendants, has sought refuge in Athens. There, the herald Copreus, in the employ of King Eurystheus of Mycenae, attempts to seize the children of Heracles, together with Heracles's old friend, Iolaus. When King Demophon, son of Theseus, insists that Iolaus and Heracles's children are under his protection, Copreus threatens to return with an army. Demophon is prepared to protect the children even at the cost of fighting a war against Eurystheus, but after consulting the oracles, he learns that the Athenians will be victorious only if they sacrifice a maiden of noble birth to Persephone. Demophon tells Iolaus that as much as he would like to help, he will not sacrifice his own child or force any of the Athenians to do so. Iolaus, realizing that he and the children will have to leave Athens and seek refuge elsewhere, despairs.
When Macaria, a daughter of Heracles, hears about the oracle's pronouncement and realizes her family's predicament, she offers herself as the victim, refusing a lottery. Bidding farewell to her siblings and to Iolaus, she leaves to be sacrificed. At the same time, Hyllus arrives with reinforcements. Although Iolaus is old and feeble, he insists on going out to the battle. Once there, he miraculously regains his youth and captures Eurystheus when Hebe answers his prayers to regain his youth for just one more day so he can be victorious and save Heracles' family. On Mount Olympus, Hebe eventually became Heracles' wife.
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