Teiresias
There are a few versions which speak about the blinding of Teiresias. Well, I have no idea in which I should believe. Anyway, I am going to share with you three different versions of the blinding of Teiresias here.
The first version:
Teiresias was believed to be blinded by the gods because he reveals their secret to mortal men.
The second version:
Teiresias was believed to be blinded by Athena when he was young because he saw her naked.
However, because Teiresias' mother is one of Athena's favourite attendants, she asked the goddess to restore his sight but fail to do so. So, Athena gives Teiresias a good hearing where he understands the sound of the birds. Athena also gave Teiresias a staff made of cornel-wood with the help of which he could walk like those who can see. Since Athena fail to restore Teiresias' sight, she gives him the power to utter oracles, to live a long life and after his death, to keep his understanding among the dead.
The third version:
Teiresias was believed to watch two snakes copulating and when he wounded the female snake, he was turned into a woman. He remained as a woman for seven years. However, later he saw the same snakes copulating and wounded the male snake, he was turned back into a man. There are believes which said that Zeus and Hera were arguing about whether the male or the female enjoys the pleasure of love more. They then get Teiresias to tell them based on his knowledge on both sides of love. Teiresias told them that
"Of ten parts a man enjoys one only, but a woman enjoys the full ten parts in her heart."
Upon listening to this, Hera blinded him and Zeus could not stop her from doing that. Therefore, Zeus gave Teiresias the power of a seer and a long life (life span of seven lives).
It is difficult to tell which one is true and which is not as these are merely believes and are not proven true in anyway.
