Greek Myths XS Hermaphroditos-Hermaphroditus: A Story of Pride

The ancient Greeks tended to fall in love with beauty, personality and wit. No matter if these qualities came in a male or female form. And since most of the available girls were kept locked up in their fathers’ homes, it was not uncommon for male friendship to blossom into something more. As for the immortal world, most gods had affairs with both sexes. Apollo fell in love with the nymph Daphne, and when she escaped him, by turning into a laurel tree, he started wearing a laurel crown. But he also took Hyakinthos as a companion, and created the hyacinth flower in his honour. And supreme god Zeus was as smitten with the young prince Ganymedes as he was with… well, anyone wearing a skirt. Both Artemis and Athena lost their heart to a female friend. And that the Greeks didn’t bother about gender is also illustrated by the cult of Hermaphroditos, love child of Hermes and Aphrodite. Their parents embodied male and female perfection, and they inherited the characteristics of both. Which made them quite irresistible.

Apollo and Daphne, statue, Gian Bernini, Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy

Hermaphroditus, marble statue, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA