Hello, diverse pantheon! I'm sure all the fragments of the myth about Ares and I have gotten excited to hear the whole story. So, that is what I am going to do today.
I am married to Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths, artisans, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes. I also have had an affair with Ares since the beginning of my marriage. Hephaestus had heard rumors of my love for Ares, and began to get suspicious. So, he made a plan to reveal our secret. He crafted a net and positioned it on our bed with snares to hold it down. His goal was for the net to trap Ares and me, leaving us immobile. The net was as subtle as a spider's web; it was not visible. Hephaestus then informed me that he would be traveling to Lemnos, and departed on his journey.
Ares saw Hephaestus depart to the far away land, and took advantage of my availability. He showed up at my home shortly after Hephaestus left, eager for my love. Ares led me to the bedroom, and we laid down on the bed. All of the sudden. The net trapped us, and neither of us were able to move.
Little did we know, Helios had been watching us at Hephaestus' request. He informed Hephaestus of the situation, who arrived at our house shortly after. He was crying as he entered our front gate, feeling deeply betrayed by his wife, me. He was on the deck for quite some time, speaking with other gods. First, he yelled to my father, Zeus, and informed him of my actions. Hephaestus also described what he hoped would come of his trap to Zeus. He thought that Ares and I would soon grow tired of each other, and consider our immobility miserable.
Soon after Hephaestus' conversation with Zeus, he requested the presence of Poseidon, Hermes and Apollo. They laughed at the punishment Hephaestus had bestowed on Ares and me. However, Poseidon convinced Hephaestus to release us. He promised to endure Ares' punishment if he ran away. After Hephaestus reluctantly released us, Ares fled to Thrace and I fled to Paphos of Cyprus. I consider Paphos of Cyprus sacred, and traveled there to renew my spirit.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Assignment #8: Resolution
Hello everyone! How was your Valentine's Day? Mine was fabulous. Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday; it is so full of love!
Alright, time to focus on the resolution of the myth. After Hephaestus trapped Ares and I, he was content with leaving us there for eternity. However, I am thankful that Poseidon was there to keep such a cruel thing from happening. Hephaestus was skeptical of releasing us because he thought that Ares would flee the scene without enduring his punishment. Poseidon encouraged Hephaestus to let us go, and promised to pay Ares' debt if he ran away. Hephaestus reluctantly let us go. Ares fled to Thrace, and I to Paphos of Cyprus, where I was born. There stands my grove and altar, the sacred place I go to renew my spirit.
Alright, time to focus on the resolution of the myth. After Hephaestus trapped Ares and I, he was content with leaving us there for eternity. However, I am thankful that Poseidon was there to keep such a cruel thing from happening. Hephaestus was skeptical of releasing us because he thought that Ares would flee the scene without enduring his punishment. Poseidon encouraged Hephaestus to let us go, and promised to pay Ares' debt if he ran away. Hephaestus reluctantly let us go. Ares fled to Thrace, and I to Paphos of Cyprus, where I was born. There stands my grove and altar, the sacred place I go to renew my spirit.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Assignment #7: Climax
Hi everyone! Aphrodite here. How is everyone doing? I'm feeling lovely as always.
The next aspect of the myth about the love of Ares and I is the climax. The climax of the myth happens about halfway through the tale. Directly before the climax, the reader is left wondering what actions Hephaestus will take to punish Ares and I. This question is answered when the snare placed in my bed suddenly traps Ares and I. We are immobile in the tight space of the net. The bodies of Ares and I are tightly pressed together. This action answered the cliffhanger at the beginning of the story as to why Hephaestus was setting up snares on our bed. It also touches on what others think of my relationship with Ares. Other gods are present for the ordeal, and find pleasure in our punishment. We had been caught in the act. There was no more refusomg , and I had to own up to my mistakes. This did not stop me from making the same mistakes over and over again.
I began to feel very chlosterphobic. Hephaestus was very pleased with this punishment. Although this action did not stop me from being an unfaithful wife, I have and will never forget the pain I caused Hephaestus. I respect Hephaestus' intelligent nature even more now than I ever did before. I did not know that Hephaestus was aware of my adulterous actions.
The next aspect of the myth about the love of Ares and I is the climax. The climax of the myth happens about halfway through the tale. Directly before the climax, the reader is left wondering what actions Hephaestus will take to punish Ares and I. This question is answered when the snare placed in my bed suddenly traps Ares and I. We are immobile in the tight space of the net. The bodies of Ares and I are tightly pressed together. This action answered the cliffhanger at the beginning of the story as to why Hephaestus was setting up snares on our bed. It also touches on what others think of my relationship with Ares. Other gods are present for the ordeal, and find pleasure in our punishment. We had been caught in the act. There was no more refusomg , and I had to own up to my mistakes. This did not stop me from making the same mistakes over and over again.
I began to feel very chlosterphobic. Hephaestus was very pleased with this punishment. Although this action did not stop me from being an unfaithful wife, I have and will never forget the pain I caused Hephaestus. I respect Hephaestus' intelligent nature even more now than I ever did before. I did not know that Hephaestus was aware of my adulterous actions.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Assignment #6: Conflict
Hi, I'm back. So I hate to admit it, but I'm quite the drama starter. I'm not very good at keeping stable friendships or faithful relationships. I prove this point in the myth about the love of Ares and I.
I am married to Hephaestus. But like I said before, I am an unfaithful wife. I was not aware of the fact that Hephaestus had suspected anything, but he had. When Hephaestus was out of town, Ares and I committed adultery. We have had an ongoing affair since the beginning of my marriage with Hephaestus, but no one had ever called us out on it. He had recruited gods to spy on the two of us when Hephaestus was "out of town." Ares did indeed come over, and Hephaestus' hypothesis that I was unfaithful was confirmed. Hephaestus had set up snares in our bed that trapped Ares and I. We tried again and again to release ourselves, but were not successful. Hephaestus stood watching, pleased that he had revealed our secret but disappointed in my actions. This incident made my marriage with Hephaestus even more unhappy than it had previously been.
I am married to Hephaestus. But like I said before, I am an unfaithful wife. I was not aware of the fact that Hephaestus had suspected anything, but he had. When Hephaestus was out of town, Ares and I committed adultery. We have had an ongoing affair since the beginning of my marriage with Hephaestus, but no one had ever called us out on it. He had recruited gods to spy on the two of us when Hephaestus was "out of town." Ares did indeed come over, and Hephaestus' hypothesis that I was unfaithful was confirmed. Hephaestus had set up snares in our bed that trapped Ares and I. We tried again and again to release ourselves, but were not successful. Hephaestus stood watching, pleased that he had revealed our secret but disappointed in my actions. This incident made my marriage with Hephaestus even more unhappy than it had previously been.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Assignment #5: Character Development
Hello all. The myth mentioned in my previous post involves a few gods dear to my heart. These include my husband Hephaestus and my lover, Ares. A few less important characters that appear in the myth are Poseidon, Hermes and Apollo.
Pictured to the right is Hephaestus, the alternate side of my estranged marriage. I never wanted to marry him. Parents- Ugh. But what can you do? Oh well, that's a different story. Hephaestus is the god of metalworking and fire. He is very kind and lovable, but also very ugly. Unlike any of the other gods, he is lame and not physically attractive. At the time of this story, Hephaestus had just began to lose trust in me and discovered that I was not a faithful wife. He had suspicions related to my relationship with Ares, and was determined to discover the truth. He has a very kind heart, and strives to find the best in everyone. He is the son of Zeus and Hera. He is very inventive. Also, Hephaestus is commonly depicted riding a donkey.
My lover, Ares, is pictured at the left. He is the god of war, battlelust, war and manly courage. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, making him the brother of Hephaestus and my half-brother. Ares is commonly holding a shield, armour, helmet, and a spear. He is tall, strong and manly. A near-opposite of Hephaestus, Ares is impulsive and has a major attitude problem. All of the gods loath him, with the exception of myself. He is even hated by his own parents. He is also a coward, but is fierce and prone to violence. The main reason I am attracted to him is because of his looks. He sported a beard. In his prime, he was very good-looking. A sacred animal to him is a serpent.
Pictured to the right is Hephaestus, the alternate side of my estranged marriage. I never wanted to marry him. Parents- Ugh. But what can you do? Oh well, that's a different story. Hephaestus is the god of metalworking and fire. He is very kind and lovable, but also very ugly. Unlike any of the other gods, he is lame and not physically attractive. At the time of this story, Hephaestus had just began to lose trust in me and discovered that I was not a faithful wife. He had suspicions related to my relationship with Ares, and was determined to discover the truth. He has a very kind heart, and strives to find the best in everyone. He is the son of Zeus and Hera. He is very inventive. Also, Hephaestus is commonly depicted riding a donkey. 
My lover, Ares, is pictured at the left. He is the god of war, battlelust, war and manly courage. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, making him the brother of Hephaestus and my half-brother. Ares is commonly holding a shield, armour, helmet, and a spear. He is tall, strong and manly. A near-opposite of Hephaestus, Ares is impulsive and has a major attitude problem. All of the gods loath him, with the exception of myself. He is even hated by his own parents. He is also a coward, but is fierce and prone to violence. The main reason I am attracted to him is because of his looks. He sported a beard. In his prime, he was very good-looking. A sacred animal to him is a serpent.
Poseidon is the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. He is the brother of Zeus and Hades. He is married to a sea nymph. Athena and Poseidon have struggle when it comes to who will become the patron deity of Athens. He is the son of Cronus and Rhea and is usually holding a trident. Hermes is the messenger god. He is the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. He wears a winged cap and winged sandals. His children include Pan, Abderus and Hermaphroditis. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. He is known for his archery skills and is the god of light, truth and healing. His job everyday is to move the sun across the sky. He is a handsome man with blond hair and a toned body.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Assignment #4: Setting
The Love of Ares and Aphrodite
The setting of this particular myth was the home of Hephaestus and I. Snares were strewn across our bed by my husband. They were hung on the posts of the bed and were subtle enough to go unnoticed by Ares and I. Our home is extravagant, a statement further supported by our elegant bedroom chamber. I heard the sweet sound of Ares' voice, persuading me to be an unfaithful wife. Once Hephaestus and I were trapped, I heard the disapproving laughter of the gods outside my home. I heard Hephaestus' wishes of a successful marriage in the back of my mind. I smelled the soothing fragrance of roses, which constantly surround my house. Ares' slight smell of fire from the warfare he often participated in drifted to my nose. It was a different kind of smell than that of Hephaestus, who often smells of fire from creating weapons. Shortly after embracing my husband, I felt the soft touch of Ares. When the snare trapped us, I felt Ares' body pressed tightly against mine, and the netting against my backside. I felt claustrophobic in the tight space Ares and I were crammed into. The thoughts going through my mind while Ares and I were trapped were that I was hurting Hephaestus. I began to feel guilty. My guilt did not last long, as I soon was reminded of my attraction toward Ares. I tasted the fire in Ares' mouth when I kissed him. I tasted leftovers from my godly meal earlier that day, containing ambrosia and nektar.
The setting of this particular myth was the home of Hephaestus and I. Snares were strewn across our bed by my husband. They were hung on the posts of the bed and were subtle enough to go unnoticed by Ares and I. Our home is extravagant, a statement further supported by our elegant bedroom chamber. I heard the sweet sound of Ares' voice, persuading me to be an unfaithful wife. Once Hephaestus and I were trapped, I heard the disapproving laughter of the gods outside my home. I heard Hephaestus' wishes of a successful marriage in the back of my mind. I smelled the soothing fragrance of roses, which constantly surround my house. Ares' slight smell of fire from the warfare he often participated in drifted to my nose. It was a different kind of smell than that of Hephaestus, who often smells of fire from creating weapons. Shortly after embracing my husband, I felt the soft touch of Ares. When the snare trapped us, I felt Ares' body pressed tightly against mine, and the netting against my backside. I felt claustrophobic in the tight space Ares and I were crammed into. The thoughts going through my mind while Ares and I were trapped were that I was hurting Hephaestus. I began to feel guilty. My guilt did not last long, as I soon was reminded of my attraction toward Ares. I tasted the fire in Ares' mouth when I kissed him. I tasted leftovers from my godly meal earlier that day, containing ambrosia and nektar.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Assignment #3: Three Cultural References
I am a major part of modern culture, as I am the visual of a perfect woman. One reference to me occurs in the song "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry. Perry sings "make me your Aphrodite, make me your one and only." I am treated very well by the men I have relationships with, and most of the men are very faithful. They also pamper me with gifts and compliments, which is something every woman desires. In the song, Katy Perry expresses her desire to be treated as well as I am by men.
Additionally, I am the focus of multiple sculptures. One of the most famous sculptures featuring me is the Venus de Milo. It was created between the years of 130 and 100 BC on the island of Milos, and is now located in the Louvre in Paris, France. Presently, the sculpture is missing arms, as they were lost in the discovery process. The original sculpture is said to have represented me picking up an apple. The picture to the left portrays what the original sculpture is thought to have looked like. It is believed to have been created by Alexander of Antioch, and is made of marble.
I am the focus of the Temple of Aphrodite in Turkey as well. It is a breathtaking landmark, located in ancient Aphrodisias. The stadium was used as the setting for many gladiator attacks. 6,000 years before the Christian Era, the temple was thought of as a sacred place. It was the home of me, the mother goddess. The site is sizable, and looks out upon fertile fields. It includes a bathhouse, theater, market, and many other structures.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Assignment # 2: Attributes Part 2
Hello, it's Aphrodite again. Most of the other gods and goddesses have a long list of responsibilities. However, I only have one duty that is very important. My job is to bring love into the world. Although I have many personality flaws, I am very friendly and loving. I make a point to encourage this behavior. I am the queen of all the beasts. Although I love all wildlife, the bear, bee, deer, dolphin, goat, leopard, lion, rabbit, toad, turtle, and wolf are most sacred to me. Some plants that I share a connection with are apples, pomegranates, poppies, linden trees, myrtle, and Star of Bethlehem. I love roses, especially rock roses and dog roses which grew from the tears I wept for Adonis. There are two main versions of the story of my birth. In one, I was born from the sea foam. In another, I am the natural-born child of Zeus and Dione and was born on the island of Cyprus near Paphos. In both versions, I consider Zeus my father. I am a common image in the Greek culture. The common theme of my worship is sexual union. As mentioned earlier, I am vain, ill-tempered, unfaithful, and jealous. I am also easily offended and selfish. Despite these flaws, many people consider me a friendly and kind person. No one can deny my charm. I do my best to carry out all my actions with love. I am very popular and am loved by many, but have only few true friends. These include my son, Eros, as well as Dionysus. I have few enemies except for those immune to my charm including Hestia, Athena, and Artemis. I also consider the whole Greek army and my daughter-in-law Psyche my enemies. Signs and symbols used to represent me include the scallop shell and other seashells, a mirror, golden apples, the Evening Star, the number 5, the ocean, and the triangle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)