Greek

Niobid Painter, Orvieto, Italy, ca. 450 BCE. Louvre, Paris.

The Niobid Painter depicts the massacre of the Niobids, the children of Niobe. Niobe was a mother who had at least a dozen children. She had bosted of her children claiming that she was superior to the goddess Leto, who had only two offspring. Leto in turn sent her two sons, Artemis and Apollo to punish and teach Niobe that no mortal could be superior to a god or goddess. Leto had Niobe's children killed.

The story in itself is an interesting one. It describes the goddess Leto as one who feels anger and acts upon her jealously. And if not jealousy, then a goddess who has lack of mercy. By taking away all of Niobe's children it showed that the lesson Leto sought to teach was one that would bring satisfaction to herself and great grief for Niobe. All of this was done because of arrogrance of a mortal. I can't say that I am very familiar with many of the stories that come from greek mythology, but it seeems to be most often implied that the gods are imperfect. With those imperfections comes a lightness in worship. Going back to the story of Niobe, I would like to point out that if in fact there was a profound respect between the mortals and immortals, why then would Niobe claim to be superior? There would be no question of who was greater, if in fact the goddess was one who had been respected or feared.