Comments on: A sightseer’s guide to the history of Ortigia, Sicily https://rachelsruminations.com/history-of-ortigia-sicily-guide/ Taking the road less traveled Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:25:02 +0000 hourly 1 By: Rachel Heller https://rachelsruminations.com/history-of-ortigia-sicily-guide/#comment-38922 Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:33:36 +0000 https://rachelsruminations.com/?p=83630#comment-38922 In reply to BJ.

I didn’t write this article – it’s a guest post – but even as it stands it’s pretty stalkerish that she has to run away from Alpheus. An all-too-familiar story! Thanks for commenting!

]]> By: BJ https://rachelsruminations.com/history-of-ortigia-sicily-guide/#comment-38920 Sun, 06 Oct 2024 08:07:52 +0000 https://rachelsruminations.com/?p=83630#comment-38920 Dear Rachel,
I was actually looking for a reinterpretation of the Aretusa myth. Although the traditional telling is romantic, a post #MeToo reinterpretation indicates that Alpheus’ attentions were unwanted. He pursued her and ‘took’ her unwillingly. Ergo, she is stuck into eternity because Aretusa described Alpheus as a man, not knowing he was divine. Sadly, Artemis didn’t ask enough questions or take a look at the young man herself, thereby condemning her favourite nymph to repeated sexual violations. I know this isn’t what people want to hear, but surely, without being as graphic as I have been, someone could at least suggest that it isn’t a love story, but a stalker story. It might not be such a good idea for a woman to visit the fountain for romantic good luck. It’s like saying that Othello is a love story.
Just sharing my thoughts as a former prosecutor.

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