1. Paphos, Cyprus
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I. STUDY QUESTIONS
The main narrative of the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite concerns the story of Aphrodite and
Anchises, a young Trojan shepherd. Zeus caused Aphrodite to fall in love with Anchises to
teach her a lesson. Aphrodite had boasted that she herself was above sexual entanglements
with mortals. Lines 53-201 recount Aphrodite's seduction of Anchises. Aphrodite journeys
first to Paphos and from there to Mt. Ida where she meets Anchises. Aphrodite convinces
Anchises that she is a mortal girl who has been sent to Troy to be Anchises' wife and to
bear him children. After they make love, Aphrodite puts Anchises to sleep and resumes her
immortal form. Upon awakening, Anchises is terrified to discover that he has just slept
with a goddess. Aphrodite calms him by telling him (1) that everything will be all right and
she will give birth to their son, Aeneas, and (2) the stories of Tithonus and of Ganymede.
1. Why do you think the poet begins his hymn to Aphrodite by comparing her to Athena,
Artemis and Hestia. In what ways does he compare these goddesses?
2. Look for passages in the seduction scene (lines 53-201) which treat the themes life vs.
death and mortality vs. immortality.
3. Can you think of any ways in which Anchises is similar to Adonis, M&L 132-136?
Hint: Why do you think Anchises is so frightened when he discovers that his new
girlfriend is the goddess Aphrodite?
4. Why does Aphrodite tell Anchises the stories about Zeus and Ganymede and Eos and
Tithonus? (Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, lines 191-238). What is the gift given to both
Tithonus and Ganymede? In what ways does this gift interfere with the lives of Tithonus
and Ganymede?
A. Homer: Zeus and Dione
B. Hesiod, Theogony: genitals of Ouranos, 1 4
1. Paphos, Cyprus
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III. APHRODITE AND ADONIS
A. Ovid
1. Myrrha
2. King Kinyras
B. Panyasis
1. Persephone
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C. Summerian Dummuzi and Inanna
1. Inanna = Aphrodite
2. Dummuzi = Adonis
3. Ereshkigal = Persephone
IV. HOMERIC HYMN TO APHRODITE
A. Anchises of Troy
B. Mt. Ida (scene of their affair, near Troy)
C. Ganymede and Zeus 7, 2 8
D. Tithonos and Eos
E. Aeneas, son of Aphrodite and Anchises
For questions about this page email Bryan James.
