Apollo and Diana, killing Niobe’s children for insulting Latona
Porcelain painter: Jean Georget

In Greek mythology, Apollo and Diana, acting on the command of their mother Leto (Latona), killed the children of Niobe. This tragic event stemmed from Niobe’s hubris; she boasted about her 14 children (7 sons and 7 daughters) and insulted Leto, who only had two children (Apollo and Diana).
The story, detailed in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, portrays Apollo and Diana as vengeful deities. Apollo slays Niobe’s sons while they are out hunting, while Diana kills her daughters. Niobe, overwhelmed with grief, is turned into a stone statue on Mount Sipylus, where she continues to weep tears that form a spring.
The myth serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of arrogance and the consequences of insulting the gods. It highlights the power of divine wrath and the devastating impact of pride.