Sand Girl

Aeons ago, a young girl lived in Tunisia. Beautiful and talented in her craftship, she had been the centre of attention for all her life. Born to a poor stonemason father, she grew up watching her father chip away at blocks of stone to create beautiful patterns. She watched him lay stone upon stone to create beautiful buildings that were prized by the gods. Her father, recognising the talent within her, spent hours teaching her the tools of the trade, till her skill was beyond any one else’s and he had no more to teach her. The god Vulcan admired her work and spoke highly of her to the other gods, telling them she could flatter even proud Juno and vain Venus with her beautiful statues. Jupiter mocked him and told him he was foolish. Venus laughed, telling him she was sure if he spent a minute in the girl’s presence, he would fall in love with her, such was his disposition.

‘amas amorem!’

Jupiter, whose ego had been bruised by Venus one too many times, was furious. ‘Though you may be older, Venus, I am still King of the Gods and you do not have the right to disrespect me! Especially a goddess of such little power and stature as yourself.’ The gods around them laughed, grateful that for once, his wrath was not directed at them. Venus glowered.

Some days later, in the great Olympian palace, Jupiter stormed into the throne room in a towering rage. He roared, curses against the Romans echoing off marble walls and ceilings. Unbeknownst to him, Venus was hiding behind a column, smiling a secret smile.

‘Little power, hm? Cupid!’ she whispered. ‘It’s your time, my love.’

A cherub, with snowy wings and blood red eyes appeared in front of her, grinning a maniacal grin. He winked and with the deftness of an archer blessed by Apollo, he shot an arrow, right at Jupiter’s chest. The god collapsed, but only for a moment. The magic of the arrow was so strong, his anger was forgotten - suddenly all he knew that the girl Hephaestus had told them about, was on his mind.

Now before this trick of hers, Venus had visited the village where the young girl lived. She knew the young girl was engaged to a man she loved; yet, Venus had not found this important. A small detail, in the way of her grand plan. So, her trick succeeding and Jupiter on his way that very moment, Venus visited the young man, accompanied by Bacchus. Hearing of her plan, he had decided to use this opportunity to humiliate his father - he had therefore enchanted the young man so that he would spend all his days wandering the desert and babbling nonsense. Venus was pleased.

She met with Jupiter in the town square. Jupiter, entranced with the girl, agreed instantly upon Venus’ suggestion that he appear to her as her fiance. Venus told Jupiter the girl would find him more attractive that way and Jupiter, unusually for him, did not question her.

Readily disguised, Jupiter appeared to the girl, under the beautiful Arch of Severus Alexander. The sun shone brightly upon the arch and the girl had been finishing the intricate carvings on the stone. However, she looked up, surprised to find someone so close. Jupiter smiled.

‘Hello my love.’

The girl frowned. She had grown up with her fiance and he wasn’t the sort to call her his love. It was one of the many things she loved about him - his actions spoke louder to her than any words could.

‘What’re you doing here?’ she asked.

Jupiter grinned and grabbed her hand, spinning her around. She smiled tentatively, confused.

‘Are you okay?’

Jupiter smiled widely at her.

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

But the girl had pulled away quickly, recoiling as she realised what was wrong. Venus’ disguise had failed to replicate the faint scar on her fiance’s hand - a scar she knew well. He had cut himself on a stone, visiting her in her workshop one day. Jupiter knew by the look on her face that she was not fooled by the facade and he quickly transformed into his godly appearance.

‘Jupiter!’ she cried.

Jupiter bowed elegantly.

‘Indeed.’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Your hands create temples worthy of Jupiter Maximus myself.’

She stepped backwards.

‘What.. What do you mean by this?’

Jupiter smiled softly.

‘I will build you a palace. I will make you a queen. Everyone in the land will know Jupiter himself fell in love with you. All you must do is come with me.’

The girl stared.

‘No! I-I cannot.’

These last words she whispered, fear crossing her face, for she knew what would come. Jupiter was not the god of storms for nothing. An expression that could only be described as a turbulent rainstorm formed on his face and he glared at her.

‘Very well. If you wish to not be with me, you can be with your real love for all eternity!’

Thunder boomed and lightning striked. Where the once vivacious and alluring young girl stood was now a tower of sandstone. Sandstone she had once used to make the beautiful buildings honouring the gods in the heavens above her. Honouring the god who killed her.

In Tunisia, they have what is called sand encroachment. Sand encroachment refers to grains of sand, blown along by the wind. You might assume the sand came from the desert, but this wouldn’t be true. The granules of sand come from the young woman and the tower of sandstone she became. Time has eroded this tower. You could go to where she last stood and you wouldn’t find anything. Not anymore. Jupiter and Venus and all the other gods don’t remember this story. Just another prank, just another way to make a fool of the King of the Gods. We haven’t forgotten this girl. Nor have we forgotten the beautiful arch she built - the Arch of Severus Alexander.