{"id":102,"date":"2021-06-14T14:19:07","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T18:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/myths\/?post_type=chapter&p=102"},"modified":"2022-02-03T10:24:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-03T15:24:58","slug":"l8newguided-homerichymntoaphrodite-part2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/chapter\/l8newguided-homerichymntoaphrodite-part2\/","title":{"raw":"L8 Hypothesis-Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, Part 2","rendered":"L8 Hypothesis-Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, Part 2"},"content":{"raw":"

The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite<\/em><\/h1>\r\nTranslated by E. Bodner and R. Nickel\r\n

Aphrodite\u2019s Great Speech<\/h1>\r\nThen Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, answered him:\r\n

\u201cAnchises, most honoured of death-bound humans,\r\nhave courage and do not fear too much in your heart.\r\nHave no fear you will suffer any evil from me\r\nor the other carefree gods, since you are most dear to them.195<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You will have a dear son who will rule among the Trojans,\r\nand children will be born to children throughout time.\r\nHis name will be Aeneas because dreadful distress\r\nheld me since I fell upon the bed of a mortal man.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ganymede<\/h1>\r\n

Of mortal men and women, your race200<\/span>\r\nhas always been especially like the gods in beauty and form.\r\nZeus the counselor abducted golden-haired Ganymede,\r\non account of his beauty, to be among the immortals\r\nand pour wine for the gods throughout the house of Zeus \u2014\r\nwondrous to behold and honoured by all the immortals \u2014205<\/span>\r\ndrawing the red nectar out of a golden bowl.<\/p>\r\n

But unceasing sorrow took hold of Tros, his father; he did not know at all\r\nwhere the divine whirlwind had carried off his dear son.\r\nWithout end, he cried aloud for his son for all his days.\r\nZeus pitied him and gave to him a ransom for his son,210<\/span>\r\nbrisk-trotting horses, the kind that carry the immortals.\r\nHe gave them as a gift for him to keep. Hermes the messenger, Watch-dog Slayer,\r\ntold him everything at the command of Zeus,\r\nthat Ganymede would be immortal and ageless like the gods.\r\nWhen Tros heard Zeus\u2019s news,215<\/span>\r\nno longer did he lament, but rejoiced within his heart and\r\njoyously rode his storm-footed steeds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Tithonus<\/h1>\r\n

Likewise Eos, golden-throned goddess of the Dawn, abducted Tithonus,\r\na man like the gods, and also from your family.\r\nEos went on her way to ask the dark-clouded son of Kronos220<\/span>\r\nthat he become immortal and live forever.\r\nZeus nodded assent and fulfilled her wish.<\/p>\r\n

Fool that she was, queenly Eos did not think in her heart\r\nto ask for youth, for the scraping away of destructive old-age.<\/p>\r\n

As long as he possessed youth, which everyone desires,225<\/span>\r\nhe remained pleasing to golden-throned, early-born Eos\r\nand dwelt by the streams of Ocean at the edges of the Earth.\r\nBut when the first grey hair came forth\r\nfrom his beautiful head and noble cheeks,\r\nthen queenly Eos kept away from his bed.230<\/span>\r\nShe cared for him still, keeping him inside her palace,\r\nwith food and ambrosia and giving him beautiful clothes.<\/p>\r\n

But once loathsome old age bore down hard upon him\r\nand he could no longer move or even raise his limbs,\r\nthis plan seemed best to her in her heart:235<\/span>\r\nShe set him down in a small room and closed its shining doors.\r\nStill his voice continues to flow without end,\r\nbut no vigour remains in his once supple, strong limbs.<\/p>\r\n

Immortal like this \u2014 I would not choose for you\r\nto live forever among the immortals in this.240<\/span>\r\nBut if, you could live remaining as you are now\r\nin beauty and form and be called my husband,\r\ngrief would not then envelop my shrewd mind.<\/p>\r\n

But quickly now old age, which does not discriminate, will envelop you.\r\nWithout pity, it soon stands besides all humans \u2014245<\/span>\r\ndestructive, debilitating, despised by the gods.<\/p>\r\n

But for me, there will be much abuse among the immortal gods\r\nfor all my days, endlessly, because of you.\r\nThey used to tremble before my intimate whisperings and cunning strategies;\r\nwith these I once forced all the immortals to have sex with mortal women.250<\/span>\r\nMy plans once overpowered them all.\r\nBut now my mouth will no longer dare to mention this\r\namong the immortals, since I was completely blinded,\r\nmiserably, unspeakably deluded \u2013 I was driven out of my mind:\r\nI slept with a mortal and conceived a child in my womb.255<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Mountain-dwelling Nymphs<\/h1>\r\n

When first the sun\u2019s light shines upon this child,\r\ndeep-bosomed, mountain-dwelling nymphs will raise him.<\/p>\r\n

They belong neither among mortals nor immortals.\r\nThey live for a long time and eat ambrosial food.260<\/span>\r\nGracefully they move in lovely dances with the gods.\r\nThe Silens \u2014 half-horse, half-man \u2014 and clear-sighted Hermes\r\nmingle in love with them in a charming corner of their caves.<\/p>\r\n

When they are born, fir trees and tall-crowned oaks\r\nstart growing on the all-nourishing Earth;265<\/span>\r\nin beauty they flourish on lofty mountains.\r\nSky-high they stand, and mortals call them sanctuaries\r\nof the immortals and never cut them down with iron.<\/p>\r\n

But when the fate of death stands beside them,\r\nfirst these beautiful trees wither upon the Earth;270<\/span>\r\nthe bark begins to decay all around, branches fall away,\r\nand joined together the soul [of nymph and tree] leaves the light of the sun.<\/p>\r\n

These nymphs will keep my son with them and raise him.\r\nWhen first much-desirable youth takes hold of him,\r\ngoddesses will bring him here and show you the child.275<\/span>\r\nBut I, so that I might explain all that I have in mind,\r\nwill come again bringing my son in his fifth year<\/p>\r\n

When first you set eyes on our son,\r\nyou will rejoice as you look at him. For he will most resemble the gods.\r\nStraightaway you will lead him to windy Ilium.280<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If any mortal man asks you\r\nwhat mother conceived your dear son in her womb,\r\nsay this to him, remembering what I command you:<\/p>\r\n

\u2018They say he\u2019s the child of a nymph with eyes like flower buds,\r\none of those who inhabit this forest-clad mountain.\u2019 285<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

But if you speak out and foolishly boast<\/div>\r\n
you mingled in love with<\/div>\r\n
the fair-garlanded<\/div>\r\n
goddess of Kythera,<\/div>\r\n

Zeus in anger will blast you with his smoldering thunderbolt.\r\nEverything has been told to you.<\/p>\r\n

Ponder it in your mind.\r\nKeep it there and do not name me.\r\nRespect the wrath of the gods.\u201d290<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Once she finished speaking,<\/p>\r\n\r\n

she darted straight up<\/div>\r\n
into the windy Sky.<\/div>\r\n

Farewell,<\/p>\r\n\r\n

divine guardian<\/div>\r\n
of well-built Cyprus.<\/div>\r\n

Having made my start with you, I shall pass on to another song.293<\/span><\/p>","rendered":"

The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite<\/em><\/h1>\n

Translated by E. Bodner and R. Nickel<\/p>\n

Aphrodite\u2019s Great Speech<\/h1>\n

Then Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, answered him:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnchises, most honoured of death-bound humans,
\nhave courage and do not fear too much in your heart.
\nHave no fear you will suffer any evil from me
\nor the other carefree gods, since you are most dear to them.195<\/span><\/p>\n

You will have a dear son who will rule among the Trojans,
\nand children will be born to children throughout time.
\nHis name will be Aeneas because dreadful distress
\nheld me since I fell upon the bed of a mortal man.<\/p>\n

Ganymede<\/h1>\n

Of mortal men and women, your race200<\/span>
\nhas always been especially like the gods in beauty and form.
\nZeus the counselor abducted golden-haired Ganymede,
\non account of his beauty, to be among the immortals
\nand pour wine for the gods throughout the house of Zeus \u2014
\nwondrous to behold and honoured by all the immortals \u2014205<\/span>
\ndrawing the red nectar out of a golden bowl.<\/p>\n

But unceasing sorrow took hold of Tros, his father; he did not know at all
\nwhere the divine whirlwind had carried off his dear son.
\nWithout end, he cried aloud for his son for all his days.
\nZeus pitied him and gave to him a ransom for his son,210<\/span>
\nbrisk-trotting horses, the kind that carry the immortals.
\nHe gave them as a gift for him to keep. Hermes the messenger, Watch-dog Slayer,
\ntold him everything at the command of Zeus,
\nthat Ganymede would be immortal and ageless like the gods.
\nWhen Tros heard Zeus\u2019s news,215<\/span>
\nno longer did he lament, but rejoiced within his heart and
\njoyously rode his storm-footed steeds.<\/p>\n

Tithonus<\/h1>\n

Likewise Eos, golden-throned goddess of the Dawn, abducted Tithonus,
\na man like the gods, and also from your family.
\nEos went on her way to ask the dark-clouded son of Kronos220<\/span>
\nthat he become immortal and live forever.
\nZeus nodded assent and fulfilled her wish.<\/p>\n

Fool that she was, queenly Eos did not think in her heart
\nto ask for youth, for the scraping away of destructive old-age.<\/p>\n

As long as he possessed youth, which everyone desires,225<\/span>
\nhe remained pleasing to golden-throned, early-born Eos
\nand dwelt by the streams of Ocean at the edges of the Earth.
\nBut when the first grey hair came forth
\nfrom his beautiful head and noble cheeks,
\nthen queenly Eos kept away from his bed.230<\/span>
\nShe cared for him still, keeping him inside her palace,
\nwith food and ambrosia and giving him beautiful clothes.<\/p>\n

But once loathsome old age bore down hard upon him
\nand he could no longer move or even raise his limbs,
\nthis plan seemed best to her in her heart:235<\/span>
\nShe set him down in a small room and closed its shining doors.
\nStill his voice continues to flow without end,
\nbut no vigour remains in his once supple, strong limbs.<\/p>\n

Immortal like this \u2014 I would not choose for you
\nto live forever among the immortals in this.240<\/span>
\nBut if, you could live remaining as you are now
\nin beauty and form and be called my husband,
\ngrief would not then envelop my shrewd mind.<\/p>\n

But quickly now old age, which does not discriminate, will envelop you.
\nWithout pity, it soon stands besides all humans \u2014245<\/span>
\ndestructive, debilitating, despised by the gods.<\/p>\n

But for me, there will be much abuse among the immortal gods
\nfor all my days, endlessly, because of you.
\nThey used to tremble before my intimate whisperings and cunning strategies;
\nwith these I once forced all the immortals to have sex with mortal women.250<\/span>
\nMy plans once overpowered them all.
\nBut now my mouth will no longer dare to mention this
\namong the immortals, since I was completely blinded,
\nmiserably, unspeakably deluded \u2013 I was driven out of my mind:
\nI slept with a mortal and conceived a child in my womb.255<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mountain-dwelling Nymphs<\/h1>\n

When first the sun\u2019s light shines upon this child,
\ndeep-bosomed, mountain-dwelling nymphs will raise him.<\/p>\n

They belong neither among mortals nor immortals.
\nThey live for a long time and eat ambrosial food.260<\/span>
\nGracefully they move in lovely dances with the gods.
\nThe Silens \u2014 half-horse, half-man \u2014 and clear-sighted Hermes
\nmingle in love with them in a charming corner of their caves.<\/p>\n

When they are born, fir trees and tall-crowned oaks
\nstart growing on the all-nourishing Earth;265<\/span>
\nin beauty they flourish on lofty mountains.
\nSky-high they stand, and mortals call them sanctuaries
\nof the immortals and never cut them down with iron.<\/p>\n

But when the fate of death stands beside them,
\nfirst these beautiful trees wither upon the Earth;270<\/span>
\nthe bark begins to decay all around, branches fall away,
\nand joined together the soul [of nymph and tree] leaves the light of the sun.<\/p>\n

These nymphs will keep my son with them and raise him.
\nWhen first much-desirable youth takes hold of him,
\ngoddesses will bring him here and show you the child.275<\/span>
\nBut I, so that I might explain all that I have in mind,
\nwill come again bringing my son in his fifth year<\/p>\n

When first you set eyes on our son,
\nyou will rejoice as you look at him. For he will most resemble the gods.
\nStraightaway you will lead him to windy Ilium.280<\/span><\/p>\n

If any mortal man asks you
\nwhat mother conceived your dear son in her womb,
\nsay this to him, remembering what I command you:<\/p>\n

\u2018They say he\u2019s the child of a nymph with eyes like flower buds,
\none of those who inhabit this forest-clad mountain.\u2019 285<\/span><\/p>\n

But if you speak out and foolishly boast<\/div>\n
you mingled in love with<\/div>\n
the fair-garlanded<\/div>\n
goddess of Kythera,<\/div>\n

Zeus in anger will blast you with his smoldering thunderbolt.
\nEverything has been told to you.<\/p>\n

Ponder it in your mind.
\nKeep it there and do not name me.
\nRespect the wrath of the gods.\u201d290<\/span><\/p>\n

Once she finished speaking,<\/p>\n

she darted straight up<\/div>\n
into the windy Sky.<\/div>\n

Farewell,<\/p>\n

divine guardian<\/div>\n
of well-built Cyprus.<\/div>\n

Having made my start with you, I shall pass on to another song.293<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"menu_order":13,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-102","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":255,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/102\/revisions\/255"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/102\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=102"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=102"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/myths\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}