Once upon a time, Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love, was bathing in the Sacred River Achelous, the largest river in Greece. Now, Achelous was a Titan,… Read more “The Fountain of Salmacis: Transgenderism in Greek Mythology”
Tag: Aphrodite
Live fast, die young and have a good looking corpse: Sappho Laments Adonis
Like many a youth, I lived fast. However, I’m still not dead; when I do go, I hope my corpse is at least presentable. While the phrase… Read more “Live fast, die young and have a good looking corpse: Sappho Laments Adonis”
The Birth of Venus: Aphrodite through the Ages
If the name Aphrodite evokes images of sensuality, it honestly should. Aphrodite is so ingrained in our linguistic memory that we use a derivative word – Aphrodisiac… Read more “The Birth of Venus: Aphrodite through the Ages”
Strawberries: The Fruits of Love
Strawberries and Champagne are the quintessential ingredients for any romantic night in. So how did this tiny fruit become a popular love staple? There is an obvious… Read more “Strawberries: The Fruits of Love”
The Union of Cupid and Psyche, part 4/4: Psyche in Hell, and the Wedding of Cupid and Psyche
Psyche in Hell: So far, with the help of the ants, the reeds, and Zeus himself, Psyche had completed all of Aphrodite’s increasingly demanding tasks. For the… Read more “The Union of Cupid and Psyche, part 4/4: Psyche in Hell, and the Wedding of Cupid and Psyche”
The Union of Cupid and Psyche, part 3/4: the Trials of Psyche
In part 1, we saw the cast of characters: primarily, they are Cupid, Psyche, and Cupid’s jealous mother, the Goddess of Desire, Aphrodite. When we left Psyche… Read more “The Union of Cupid and Psyche, part 3/4: the Trials of Psyche”
The Deception of Zeus: Hera and the Siege of Troy
In the heat of the conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans, the Gods took sides. Hera, Queen of Olympians, and Athena, the Goddess of War and… Read more “The Deception of Zeus: Hera and the Siege of Troy”
The Union of Cupid and Psyche, Part 2/4, the Banishment and the Villa
In part 1, we met our cast of characters. Now, it’s time to let them play out their parts: So, imagine this: you are the most beautiful… Read more “The Union of Cupid and Psyche, Part 2/4, the Banishment and the Villa”
The Union of Cupid and Psyche, Part 1/4: Cast of Characters
We have come to use the words “comedy” and “tragedy” very differently than the Greeks, from which these two words originate. For the Greeks, a comedy was… Read more “The Union of Cupid and Psyche, Part 1/4: Cast of Characters”
Atalanta’s Foot Race
Atalanta runs and the boys chase her, knowing that if they can catch her, she will marry them. Knowing that if they can’t, they will be put… Read more “Atalanta’s Foot Race”