There is a Greek legend of a poor couple who unknowingly entertained the great god Zeus, and his companion, Hermes. The story tells that the gods came to their town disguised as poor peasants, needing food & a place to sleep that night. They were rejected by everyone until they reached the home of Baucis and Philemon. Though very poor, the couple opened their humble cottage & shared the little food they had with the gods. Suddenly they realized that the dishes had turned to gold and the food was plentiful. They then knew who their guests were & became terrified as they had nothing better to offer.But the gods rewarded the couple for their kindness and purity of heart. They protected them from a flood they sent to punish the mean hearted townspeople. And their small rundown home was turned into a majestic temple with marble pillars & a solid gold roof. The couple asked for one thing-to serve the gods until they were very old. Their only request was that they be allowed to die at the same time, so that neither of them would suffer the pain of living without the other. Deeply touched by their humility and love, Zeus turned them into a pair of intertwining trees: Philemon, an oak, and Baucis, a linden. They lived forever, their branches entwined in the Dance of Love.
