In every mythology, there are several gods and goddesses whom people tend to avoid. In Greek mythology, Kakia is an example of one such goddess. In the mythical stories, she is described as the goddess of vice, immorality, and badness. She was a seductress with a curvaceous figure, dressed in revealing clothes, much jewellery, and too much extravagance. She is the desire to pursue hedonism, and she embodies indulgence. Her prime object was to seduce people and tempt them to immorality, to make them evil.

While Kakia is the personification of wickedness, evil, moral badness, and sin, her counterpart Arete represents virtue, knowledge, and moral value. Arete, depicted as a fair woman and dressed in white, is the personification of excellence, goodness, valour, and achievement, but Kakia intended to tempt people to become evil. Even, she tried to tempt Heracles, perhaps the most famous hero in Greek mythology. The story, which involved both Arete and Kakia, was originally narrated by Prodicus of Ceos, a philosopher, and a teacher in ancient Greece. Titled The Choice of Heracles, it is related to the early life of Heracles in which Kakia attempted to seduce him with the promise of wealth and ease.

According to the story, during one of those days when Heracles was about to cross the threshold of boyhood to enter his youth, he was pondering in a lonely place about choosing the right way to lead his future life. While he sat at an isolated fork in the road, contemplating his right move to face the uncertain future, there appeared two beautiful women before him to offer their plans for Heracles.

One of them, a very beautiful, voluptuous, and alluring woman, pushed the other one and came in front of him to ensure she spoke first. She was Kakia, the goddess of vice and immorality, although she introduced herself as Eudaimonia or Happiness, as she is called by her friends. She assured Heracles that her way is the easiest and the most pleasant approach to happiness. She also promised that if he chooses her way, he would avoid all the hardships of life and enjoy the luxury beyond the wildest imagination, which is the fruit produced by the hard toil of others.

After that, the second woman, a fair and beautiful lady, dressed in white, and named Arete, approached Heracles. However, he was surprised by her proposal as she told him that her path would require him to work hard, and it would be a very long and tough way.

If Heracles chooses her way, he would be tested by many hardships and he would have to endure great loss and suffering throughout the long way in his journey. However, he would have the courage, wisdom, and discipline to face every adversity and would finally earn Happiness by reflecting on his deeds.

Heracles gave a patient hearing to both of them, but he did not give in to the temptations of Kakia, and accepted the life of hardship as told by Arete.