Immortality Myth reference

[izapem]

Immortality Myth reference

Hi All

Years ago I read a myth - Greek if I recall correctly - about a mortal who was granted immortality but forgot to ask for eternal youth. The individual continued to age until he or she became a lump pitifully asking for death which could not be granted because of the immortality previously granted. Can anyone recall which myth?

thanks

Jon

 

[greekgeek]

Tithonus the Trojan Prince.

If I'm remembering aright, he didn't ask for it -- Eos the goddess of the dawn did so, because she was in love with him. She petitioned Zeus (?) to make her lover immortal, but as usual, Zeus could sleep around with anybody, but goddess' lovers tended to have bad luck.

 

[richard]

might jog you memory

In the version I half remember, one god grants immortality. Then another god would like to cancel it, but can't (one god can't undo what another has done - and I forget where that comes from too) and so instead they leave whoever it is as immortal but have them age forever. Just maybe this was in Ovid's Metamorphoses that I read this. Not much use I know.
Richard