Classical Mythology

(^184) THE MYTHS OF CREATION: THE GODS
erings, for it had already been made with soft blankets; on it lay the skins of
bears and loud-roaring lions that Anchises had slain in the lofty mountains. And
then when they went up to his well-wrought bed, Anchises first removed the
gleaming ornaments, the intricate brooches and flowers and necklaces; and he
loosened the belt about her waist and took off her shining garments and set them
down on a silver-studded chair. Then by the will of the gods and of fate he, a
mortal man, lay with an immortal goddess, without knowing the truth.
At the time when herdsmen turn their cattle and staunch sheep back to their
shelter from the flowery pastures, Aphrodite poured upon Anchises a sleep that
was sound and sweet, and she dressed herself in her lovely raiment. When the
goddess of goddesses had clothed her body beautifully, she stood by the couch
and her head reached up to the well-wrought beam of the roof, and from her
cheeks shone the heavenly beauty that belongs to Cytherea of the beautiful
crown. She roused Anchises from sleep and called out to him with the words:
"Get up, son of Dardanus; why do you sleep so deeply? Tell me if I appear to
you to be like the person whom you first perceived with your eyes."
Thus she spoke, and he immediately awoke and did as he was told. When
he saw the neck and the beautiful eyes of Aphrodite, he was afraid and looked
down turning his eyes away and he hid his handsome face in his cloak and
begged her with winged words: "Now from the first moment that I have looked
at you with my eyes, O goddess, I know you are divine; and you did not tell
me the truth. But I implore you, by aegis-bearing Zeus, do not allow me to con-
tinue to dwell among mortals, still alive but enfeebled; have pity, for no man
retains his full strength who sleeps with an immortal goddess."
Then Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus, replied: "Anchises, most renowned
of mortal men, be of good courage and do not be overly frightened in your heart.
For you need have no fear that you will suffer evil from me or the other blessed
ones; indeed you are beloved by the gods. And you will have a dear son who
will rule among the Trojans; and his children will produce children in a con-
tinuous family succession. His name will be Aeneas, since I am gripped by a
dread anguish^10 because I went into the bed of a man, although among mortals
those of your race are always most like the gods in beauty and in stature."
Aphrodite is upset because she can no longer taunt the gods with the boast
that she has caused them to love mortals while she alone has never succumbed.
She continues to try to justify her actions by glorifying the family of Anchises.
She tells the story of Ganymede, who was beautiful and made immortal by Zeus,
and relates the sad tale of handsome Tithonus, also of the Trojan royal family,
who was beloved by Eos and granted immortality. Aphrodite's son Aeneas, of
course, emerges eventually as the great hero of the Romans. Here is the con-
clusion of the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite.
f
"Indeed Zeus in his wisdom seized and carried off fair-haired Ganymede be-
cause of his beauty, so that he might be in the company of the gods and pour
wine for them in the house of Zeus, a wonder to behold, esteemed by all the im-
mortals, as he draws the red nectar from a golden bowl. But a lasting sorrow
gripped the heart of Tros, for he had no idea where the divine whirlwind had