Alexander's heartbeats were so fast and loud they could compete with the drums played in secret rituals. As blood surged through his veins, Alexander felt its flow throughout his body while locking eyes with Cassandra. The sparkle in the eyes of Cassandra, who was in the spring of her sixteen years, was hidden behind a cloud of sadness. She still couldn't believe that Alexander, with whom she dreamed of uniting her life, would soon become a priest of the goddess Artemis. The previous night, when they were alone for the last time, she had asked Alexander, “Why did you decide to become a priest of Artemis? Did you never love me?” With tears in his eyes, Alexander had bowed his head and said, “You know I loved you very much, but Artemis wants it this way. She comes into my dreams at night. During the day, I see her in the mountains and the land. She is calling me.”

Which mortal could stand against the will of Artemis, the great goddess of Ephesus, embodying the very essence of nature — the mountains, the plains, the wildlife, in short, nature itself? Apparently, Artemis had also loved handsome and young Alexander and wanted him for herself. What could be done?

When the drumbeat calling Alexander to join the priests of Artemis was heard, Cassandra, risking the wrath of the goddess, entered the temple gardens following her beloved. The magnificent temple at the center of the well-maintained garden was extraordinarily beautiful with its marble steps, columns the product of exquisite craftsmanship, and carved façade. Young Alexander, accompanied by the wild sounds of drums, advanced to the ritual area pointed out by Megabyzos, the high priest of Artemis. Cassandra, meanwhile, huddled in a secluded corner, waiting for the ceremony that would separate her from her love forever to begin.

When the rhythms of drums announcing the start of the ceremony were joined by the sounds of lyres, flutes, and pipes, the high priest came to the center of the ritual area and signaled Alexander to approach. Moving along the path opened by the other priests, Alexander appeared like a divine messenger from the heavens with his garments fluttering in the breeze. When the high priest and the prospective priest stood side by side, time stopped, the wind ceased its blowing, and silence fell. Only the drums, Alexander's heartbeats, and the booming voices of the priests could be heard. Under the influence of the surroundings, Alexander became detached from time and space. His will was entirely at the mercy of Artemis and Megabyzos.

The old man, who bore the title of Megabyzos given to the high priests of Artemis, a name none remembered, commanded Alexander to strip, and severed his manhood with a silver-hued dagger. Young Alexander's male organ was now like a worm writhing in the earth of the Great Mother. As the earth drank deeply of the blood pouring from Alexander's groin, Cassandra fainted and collapsed to the ground.

Alexander

Alexander's heartbeats were so fast and loud they could compete with the drums played in secret rituals. As blood surged through his veins, Alexander felt its flow throughout his body while locking eyes with Cassandra. The sparkle in the eyes of Cassandra, who was in the spring of her sixteen years, was hidden behind a cloud of sadness. She still couldn't believe that Alexander, with whom she dreamed of uniting her life, would soon become a priest of the goddess Artemis. The previous night, when they were alone for the last time, she had asked Alexander, “Why did you decide to become a priest of Artemis? Did you never love me?” With tears in his eyes, Alexander had bowed his head and said, “You know I loved you very much, but Artemis wants it this way. She comes into my dreams at night. During the day, I see her in the mountains and the land. She is calling me.”

Which mortal could stand against the will of Artemis, the great goddess of Ephesus, embodying the very essence of nature — the mountains, the plains, the wildlife, in short, nature itself? Apparently, Artemis had also loved handsome and young Alexander and wanted him for herself. What could be done?

When the drumbeat calling Alexander to join the priests of Artemis was heard, Cassandra, risking the wrath of the goddess, entered the temple gardens following her beloved. The magnificent temple at the center of the well-maintained garden was extraordinarily beautiful with its marble steps, columns the product of exquisite craftsmanship, and carved façade. Young Alexander, accompanied by the wild sounds of drums, advanced to the ritual area pointed out by Megabyzos, the high priest of Artemis. Cassandra, meanwhile, huddled in a secluded corner, waiting for the ceremony that would separate her from her love forever to begin.

When the rhythms of drums announcing the start of the ceremony were joined by the sounds of lyres, flutes, and pipes, the high priest came to the center of the ritual area and signaled Alexander to approach. Moving along the path opened by the other priests, Alexander appeared like a divine messenger from the heavens with his garments fluttering in the breeze. When the high priest and the prospective priest stood side by side, time stopped, the wind ceased its blowing, and silence fell. Only the drums, Alexander's heartbeats, and the booming voices of the priests could be heard. Under the influence of the surroundings, Alexander became detached from time and space. His will was entirely at the mercy of Artemis and Megabyzos.

The old man, who bore the title of Megabyzos given to the high priests of Artemis, a name none remembered, commanded Alexander to strip, and severed his manhood with a silver-hued dagger. Young Alexander's male organ was now like a worm writhing in the earth of the Great Mother. As the earth drank deeply of the blood pouring from Alexander's groin, Cassandra fainted and collapsed to the ground.

Alexander