Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (I)Why does the poet mention the three virgin goddesses before proceeding with the story of how Aphrodite was mated with a mortal?
What does Hestia agree to in order to be allowed not to mate with Poseidon or Apollo? Does any one of the virgin goddesses represent the threat to Zeus that Aphrodite does?
Why does Zeus compel Aphrodite to lie with a mortal man?
How does the author of the Hymn describe Aphrodite's approach to Troy? How do the animals who observe her behave?
How does Anchises respond to the goddess? Does her disguise work? How is Anchises's response like the actions of Celeus and his family when Demeter arrived at their home in the Hymn to Demeter? What two pleas does Anchises offer at the end of his openi ng words to the goddess?
Describe the relationship between the goddess and the mortal. Though Aphrodite falls under the power of love for Anchises, who dominates when the two meet? How does Anchises treat the goddess disguised as a virgin queen? How does Anchises's behavior change when Aphrodite reveals her identity?
What is the meaning of the name Aeneas, which will be given to the child Aphrodite has conceived by Anchises? What is the significance of this name? What is its importance for the themes of this hymn?
Aphrodite tells the stories of Ganymede and Tithonos to make what points?
Because of his beauty Ganymede was made immortal by Zeus and serves him as cupbearer. Ganymede's father, Tros, was heart-sick when his son disappeared. But later, he was visited by Hermes, who told all that had happened. How does this news affect him? What did Aphrodite promise Anchises just before she began this story?
In the second story, Dawn falls in love with Tithonus and snatches him off to the presence of Zeus to ask if he will make him immortal. Her plea was granted, but immortality without lasting youth proved to be a curse. Tithonos continued to age, until he was feeble and could no longer talk. Another version of this story says that he became a cricket and was kept in a cage. What message should Anchises draw from this story?
The hymn ends with a strict threat leveled by Aphrodite against Anchises: if he should ever boast of having slept with the goddess of love, Zeus would blast him with a thunderbolt. If Anchises is the only mortal with knowledge of these matters, and if he is under threat of a lightning strike if he should ever tell what happened that afternoon, then how did the writer of this poem find out about this encounter? What effect do you think the poet wished to achieve by this implication of secret knowledge and potential disaster if the oath were broken?
Note: In some later representations, Anchises is portrayed as a cripple, the victim of a lightning strike. See image below:
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Revised: 1 June 2001
