Daughter of
Aeolus (the king)
and Aegiale (or Enarete). Her husband was king Ceynx, who in turn was the
son of the deity Eosphorus (Hesperius).
Ceynx was very content with his wife and life, and decided this happiness
was reason enough for him to call his wife Hera.
He also made Alcyone call him Zeus.
This, of course, inflicted the wrath of the gods, and they were changed into
birds as a punishment. Alcyone was turned into a Kingfisher, or Halcyon, and
Ceynx into a Gannet, or Ceyx.
According to another myth Ceynx drowned in a shipwreck during a trip to consult
an oracle. This made Alcyone follow him by jumping into the sea. The gods
took pity on them, and transformed the into sea birds.
The Kingfisher has its nesting period during the winter solstice, and during
the winter months when the weather is calm for a few days, the Greeks say
we have "Halcyon days".