10 POPULAR LOVE LEGENDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The most popular love legends from around the world have been inspired by lovers throughout history and have served to inspire and create passions in couples around the planet.

Almost all of these stories symbolize, in some way or another, the inevitability of mutual attraction that can exist between two people. Additionally, they tend to show that the power of love overcomes all obstacles.

Although lovers do not always have a happy ending in the end, loss and separation work almost like catharsis; they cleanse the human soul of its prejudices and restrictions and prepare it for the renewal of love and harmony.

The language of love is universal, but around the world you can discover different customs, fascinating stories and magical legends on this subject.

This list has several love stories: they are myths and legends inspired by real life stories and people.

List of 10 popular love legends

1- Troilus and Cressida

This legend takes place during the Trojan War; Troilus was a Trojan prince who falls in love with Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan priest who has defected to the Greek side. Crésida is taken to the Greek side for a political exchange.

Despite the promise to stay faithful, Cressida gives in to the advances of Diomedes (a Greek fighter). Then Troilus, heartbroken by his lover's betrayal, is assassinated by Achilles.

2- Zal and Rubadeh

It is a Persian legend that tells of Zal, who as a child was lost on the top of a mountain. When he grew up, he was given a feather with the promise that this amulet would keep him safe on the journey to reunite with his father.

During his journey, he fell in love with Rubadeh, a woman with hair down to her ankles. When he finally found his father, he learned that his family was Rubadeh's enemy, so they had to separate.

But eventually Zal sought her out and stood under her balcony, where she was able to climb using Rubadeh's hair. Seeing them so in love, their families could not deny their marriage and gave their blessing.

When Rubadeh was giving birth, Zal threw the feather into the fire to protect her new family.

3- Marco Antonio and Cleopatra

One of the most interesting love legends occurred in the 31st century BC, between the continents of Europe and Africa.

Marco Antonio was a Roman general who fell in love with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra and left his wife Octavia. Enraged, his ex-brother-in-law began an attack against him.

In the end, the invading Roman forces defeat Marco Antonio and Cleopatra, so they both commit suicide to avoid being captured by the enemy.

The legend of this couple is popular both for its passion and for its political alliance; Shakespeare even wrote a historical play inspired by it.

3- Geneva and Lancelot

Guinevere was the consort of the legendary King Arthur, but she fell in love with Sir Lancelot, one of the Knights of the Round Table.

The two begin a passionate and brief romance that ends when Arturo discovers them. Guinevere is imprisoned, while Arthur attacks Lancelot. Although the details of this legend vary, the end of this conflict marks the end of this great king.

Eventually Guinevere enters a convent while Lancelot returns to his own land to live a life of penance.

4- The Butterfly Lovers

This legend tells of the Chinese couple Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. Zhu was a beautiful and intelligent woman who had to disguise herself as a man to get a better education. In the process she meets Liang and the two develop a deep connection.

Although Liang discovers Zhu's true identity, he does so very late when she is going to marry another man; Liang dies heartbroken.

On his wedding day, Zhu visits his grave and wishes it could be opened to enter. Suddenly thunder sounds, the tomb opens and Zhu throws himself into it.

Their spirits transform into butterflies that fly free, never to be separated again.

5- Tristan and Isolde

Isolde of Ireland is promised to the King of Cornwall, who sends his nephew Tristan to escort her to his kingdom. During this trip the young people fell in love.

Eventually Isolde marries her fiancé and Tristan does the same with Isolde of Britain. However, the two are still in love.

Some time later, Tristán falls ill and calls Isolde in the hope that she will heal him. They accept that if Isolde decides to return, the ships' sails would be white and if she refused they would be black.

The candles were white, but Isolde of Britannia gets a fit of jealousy and lies to Tristan saying they were black.

Tristan dies devastated before Isolde can reach him and in the end she dies of a broken heart.

6- Song of Eternal Repentance

This legend tells that Yang Yuhuan - one of the 4 beauties of ancient China - became the consort of Emperor Xuanzong.

Xuanzong was so distracted by her beauty that he ignored his political office. As a result, there was a rebellion.

Yang was blamed for the riot and was forced to hang herself. Xuanzong was so hurt by her death that she abdicated the crown and passed it on to her son.

7- Hero and Leandro

Hero (a priestess of Aphrodite) and Leander fell in love. Every night Leandro swam through the Hellespont to reach her; Hero lit a light in the tower to guide her way.

But one night, a storm blew out the lamp and Leandro got lost. Unable to bear the loss of his lover, Hero threw himself from the tower and died.

8- Paris and Helen of Troy

It is a Greek historical legend. Helen of Troy, considered the most beautiful woman in the world, is married to Menelaus, the King of Sparta. Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, falls in love with Helen and kidnaps her, taking her to Troy.

The Greeks formed an army to take it back and destroyed Troy in the process. But thanks to this Helena can return to Sparta, where she lived happily with Menelaus for the rest of her life.

9- Paolo and Francesca

This legend takes place in Italy; Francesca is married to Gianciotto, who is a horrible person. Eventually Francesca falls in love with her brother-in-law, Paolo; love between them develops when they both start to read the same book.

When the lovers are discovered, Gianciotto goes into a fit of rage and murders them.

10- Robin Hood and Lady Marian

This legend tells the story of Robin Hood (a noble lord), who fell in love at first sight with Marian (who came from the aristocracy).

At first she didn't like him, but eventually she couldn't resist his charms and fell in love with him. But before they could be married, the Sheriff of Nottingham strips Robin of her fortune.

For this reason they must separate and Robin begins his life as a bandit living in the forest. He begins to take revenge on all those who lied and hurt other people, protecting all those who could not protect themselves. Time passed and Robin formed a band of helpers, but he never stopped thinking about Marian.

Eventually Marian decided to search for Robin; To protect herself on her journey, she decided to disguise herself as a young knight.

One day Robin, who was also in hiding, met Marian in the forest. The two began to fight without recognizing each other, until one of them spoke and took off their costumes.

When they recognized each other, they cried, hugged and laughed with happiness. Robin's gang declared Marian as their queen and Robin as their king. The couple lived happily in the forest.

References

1. Top 20 most famous love stories in history and literature. Recovered from amolife.com
2. Five mythical love stories so intense they're epic (2017). Recovered from yourtango.com
3. 10 famous love leyends. Recovered from futurescopes.com
4. Love legends around the world. Recovered from hodder.co.uk
5. 10 greatest Chinese love stories ever (2013). Recovered from chinawhisper.com
6. The six most tragic love stories in history (2011). Recovered from livescience.com
7. Robin Hood and Maid Marion (an English legend) (2006). Recovered from uexpress.com