Greek Myth IX: Hymns to Aphrodite, or When Peleus Met Aphrodite

Posted byTriumvir ClioPosted inGreek Myth, The Greeks

This episode covers the three Homeric Hymns dedicated to Aphrodite, numbers 5, 6, and 10. In the episode, I mentioned a few things that I would share, and I’m pleased to say I was able to find versions of all of them that I could share.

Boticelli's Birth of Venus
Boticelli’s Birth of Venus, which could also be titled Homeric Hymn 6
The Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, or how I imagine all of the gods as they propose to Aphrodite
And now that you know the Rose Adagio, treat yourself to the Tart Adage from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Discussion Prompts
  1. In Hymn 5, Anchises is hanging out by the huts while all of the other shepherds are tending the animals. Why do you think he isn’t with them?
  2. What does Hymn 5 tell us about the role of women in the ancient Mediterranean world?
  3. Why do you think Aphrodite objects to the fate of Ganymede?
  4. Whose fault is it that Tithonos has eternal life but not eternal youth? Eos or Zeus? Why?
  5. What does the “relationship” between Aphrodite and Anchises say about consent?
  6. How would you describe the relationship between Aphrodite and the Horai, especially working from the knowledge that they are all related to fertility and agriculture?
  7. What do you think the original purpose of Hymn 10 was?

Published by Triumvir Clio

I have a BA in History and Classical Civilization from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from Western Michigan University. I've been a geometry teacher, a religion teacher, a writing tutor. I'm a writer, a knitter, a dancer, a singer, an actor. And, yes, for fun I like to reread everything that was assigned while getting my classics degree.

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