The Peacock and Juno

In the sacred groves that surrounded the magnificent temple of Juno, queen of the gods, there lived a spectacular peacock named Argus who was widely considered to be one of the most beautiful creatures in all the world. His tail feathers were an breathtaking display of iridescent blues and greens, each one adorned with eye-like patterns that seemed to shimmer and dance in the sunlight.

Argus was indeed a magnificent sight to behold. When he spread his tail in full display, visitors to the temple would stop in wonder and admiration, marveling at the incredible beauty of his plumage. The colors of his feathers seemed to change and shift with every movement, creating a living work of art that never failed to inspire awe and appreciation.

Juno herself had blessed Argus with this extraordinary beauty, making him her special favorite among all the birds. His gorgeous tail was meant to be a symbol of her divine power and artistic creativity, a living demonstration of the goddess’s ability to create beauty beyond mortal imagination.

For most of his life, Argus had been perfectly content with his role as Juno’s beautiful favorite. He enjoyed the admiration of temple visitors, the respect of other birds, and the special status that came with being associated with the queen of the gods.

However, one evening as Argus was preening his magnificent feathers near the temple fountain, he heard something that would change his perspective entirely. From a nearby grove came the most beautiful sound he had ever heard—the exquisite song of a nightingale named Philomela.

Philomela’s voice was pure magic. Her notes were clear and sweet, ranging from the softest whispers to the most soaring melodies. She could create complex musical phrases that seemed to tell entire stories of love, loss, hope, and joy. Her singing was so beautiful that it could move listeners to tears or lift their spirits to heights of pure happiness.

As Argus listened to Philomela’s enchanting song, he began to feel something he had never experienced before: envy. For the first time in his life, he encountered a gift that seemed more valuable and desirable than his own magnificent appearance.

“How beautiful her voice is,” Argus thought to himself. “How much more wonderful it would be to create such lovely music than to simply stand here looking pretty!”

Night after night, Argus found himself listening to Philomela’s concerts with growing discontent about his own gifts. While temple visitors continued to admire his beautiful plumage, he began to feel that visual beauty was somehow inferior to the nightingale’s musical talents.

“Anyone can look at something beautiful,” Argus reasoned, “but Philomela’s songs touch people’s hearts and souls in a way that my appearance never could. Her gift is active and creative, while mine is just… decorative.”

The more Argus thought about this comparison, the more dissatisfied he became with his own remarkable gifts. He began to see his magnificent tail as a burden rather than a blessing, something that required constant maintenance and attention but provided no real value beyond superficial admiration.

Finally, Argus’s discontent grew so strong that he decided to approach Juno herself with his complaint. The peacock made his way to the goddess’s private sanctuary within the temple, where she often received petitions from her favored creatures.

“Great Juno,” Argus began respectfully, “I come before you with a humble request that I hope you will consider favorably.”

Juno, who was always pleased to see her beautiful peacock, smiled warmly at Argus. “Of course, my dear Argus. What can I do for my most magnificent bird?”

Argus took a deep breath and prepared to make his case. “Divine goddess, I am deeply grateful for the beauty you have bestowed upon me. My tail feathers are indeed spectacular, and I know that many creatures envy my appearance.”

“Yes,” Juno agreed, “you are certainly one of my finest creations. Your beauty brings glory to my temple and wonder to all who see you.”

“But,” Argus continued, “I have been listening to the nightingale Philomela, and I find myself longing for a different kind of gift. Her voice is so beautiful, so moving, so capable of touching hearts and creating emotions in ways that my appearance never could.”

Juno’s expression became more serious as she realized where this conversation was heading.

“I was hoping,” Argus said with growing confidence, “that you might consider giving me a voice like Philomela’s. Surely someone with my magnificent appearance would be even more impressive if I could also sing with such beauty!”

Juno looked at her peacock with a mixture of disappointment and concern. “Argus, do you truly understand what you are asking for?”

“I’m asking to be more complete,” Argus replied. “To have beauty of voice to match my beauty of appearance. Wouldn’t that make me an even better representative of your divine power?”

The goddess shook her head sadly. “My dear peacock, you are asking me to change the very nature of the gifts I have given you. Each creature receives the talents and abilities that are most suited to their purpose and their nature.”

“But why can’t I have both?” Argus persisted. “Why should I be limited to just visual beauty when Philomela gets to create such wonderful music?”

Juno’s voice became more firm. “Argus, you speak as if your gift of beauty is somehow lesser than Philomela’s gift of song. Do you not realize that your magnificent tail brings joy and wonder to thousands of people who visit my temple? Do you not understand that your beauty serves as a daily reminder of divine artistry and creativity?”

Argus shifted uncomfortably, beginning to sense that his request might not be received as favorably as he had hoped.

Juno continued her explanation with patience but growing sternness. “Furthermore, you seem to think that having multiple gifts would necessarily make you better or more valuable. But consider this: Philomela’s song is beautiful precisely because it is her special talent, her unique contribution to the world. If every creature could sing like Philomela, her gift would lose much of its specialness.”

“But surely—” Argus began to protest.

“No,” Juno interrupted firmly. “You are asking me to make you envious of someone else’s gifts instead of appreciating your own. You want me to give you what you lack rather than helping you value what you have.”

The goddess stood up, her divine presence filling the sanctuary with power and authority. “Argus, your request shows a dangerous lack of gratitude for the extraordinary gifts you have already received. You have been blessed with beauty that surpasses almost every other creature on earth, yet you focus on the one thing you don’t have rather than the remarkable things you do have.”

Argus began to realize that he had made a serious mistake in approaching Juno with his complaint.

“Let me tell you something about gifts, my beautiful peacock,” Juno said with the wisdom of ages. “Every creature receives the talents they need to fulfill their purpose. Philomela’s song and your beauty serve different but equally important functions in the grand design of creation.”

“Your visual beauty inspires immediate wonder and appreciation for divine artistry. People see you and are reminded that the gods can create things of transcendent beauty. Philomela’s song provides emotional depth and musical beauty that touches hearts in a different way.”

Juno’s expression softened slightly as she delivered her final lesson. “True wisdom lies not in wanting what others have, but in fully developing and appreciating what you yourself have been given. Instead of envying Philomela’s voice, you should focus on being the most magnificent peacock you can possibly be.”

Argus left the sanctuary with a much different perspective than he had brought to it. He realized that his discontent had blinded him to the true value of his own extraordinary gifts and had made him ungrateful for blessings that millions of other creatures would give anything to possess.

From that day forward, Argus made a conscious effort to appreciate his magnificent tail and the joy it brought to others. He never again complained about not having a nightingale’s voice, and he learned to find fulfillment in being the best peacock he could be rather than wishing he were some other kind of creature entirely.

Moral: Be grateful for the gifts you have been given rather than envying the talents of others. Each person has unique abilities that serve important purposes. True contentment comes from appreciating and developing your own talents, not from wishing you had someone else’s gifts instead.