In the land of sunshine and olive trees, where stories of heroes were whispered on the breeze, lived two brothers named Amphion and Zethus. They were twins, but as different as a playful kitten and a sturdy ox!

Zethus was a big, strong fellow. He loved to hunt and could lift things heavier than a grumpy bear! He believed that hard work and muscle power were the way to get things done. If you needed a tree moved, Zethus was your man. He’d grunt, he’d heave, and that tree would be out of the ground!

Amphion was different. He wasn't as brawny, but oh, he had a special gift! He could play the lyre, a kind of small harp, so beautifully that even the birds would stop to listen, and the grumpy bears might even tap their feet. His music was magical.

One day, after many adventures (including helping their mother, Antiope, who had been treated very unkindly), Amphion and Zethus decided it was time to build a great city. This city would be called Thebes, and like all good cities, it needed strong walls to keep everyone safe.

Zethus rolled up his sleeves. "Right!" he boomed. "Let's get these rocks moving!" He started to pick up enormous stones, his muscles bulging. He’d grunt, "Hoo-ah!" and heave a giant boulder, slowly and steadily moving it towards where the wall should be. It was hard, sweaty work, and Zethus was very proud of his strength.

Amphion watched for a little while. Then, he just sat down, took out his shiny lyre, and began to play. He didn’t play a marching song or a work song. He played the most beautiful, flowing melodies you can imagine. The music was so magical, so sweet, that something amazing happened.

The big, heavy stones around them started to wiggle! Then they began to float, just like bubbles in the air, and dance their way right into place in the wall! One by one, charmed by Amphion's music, the stones lifted themselves up and settled perfectly, fitting together like pieces of a giant puzzle.

Zethus would stop, wipe the sweat from his forehead, and stare with his mouth wide open. "Brother," he’d say, "how do you DO that? I’m breaking my back here, and your rocks are just waltzing into place!"

Amphion would just smile and keep playing his enchanting tunes. Soon, a magnificent wall began to rise around their new city, built partly by Zethus’s powerful muscles and partly by Amphion’s magical music.

And so, with Zethus’s mighty strength and Amphion’s magical music, the great walls of Thebes rose up, strong and beautiful, ready to keep everyone inside safe and sound. It just goes to show, there's more than one way to build something wonderful!

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