Greek Myths XS: The Problem of Priapos-Priapus

Spring fever can affect all of us, but the Greek god Priapos, son of Aphrodite and Dionysos, was “feverish” all year long. His “condition” was Hera’s doing, a revenge for Aphrodite being chosen as the prettiest of goddesses instead of her. So, she cursed Priapos and he would grow up to be ugly and awkward. But he combined this wat insatiable “eagerness” and physical “readiness” (hence the rare condition that bares his name). To make matters worse, he could never meet expectations and fell short (literally) “in the heat of the moment”. This didn’t stop him from trying though. He made a habit of creeping up on sleeping nymphs. Like he did with Lotis. She was alerted by a donkey, and woke up just in time. Priapos unalived the donkey, by use of his enormous “instrument”, and demanded donkey sacrifices ever since. Despite all of this, the Greeks sympathised with him – the men anyway – and put his statue in streets and gardens. Nowadays, we still do, in the form of garden gnomes, or little boys.

Priapos, Fresco, Casa dei Vettii, Pompeï

Priapus, Cortile Ottagono, Vatican Museums, Rome, Italy

Did you know...

• In some versions, it would be the goddess of the hearth, Hestia, who was pursued by Priapos and saved by a donkey. That would explain why donkeys paraded at the "Vestalia"-festivities in Rome and why donkes appear in Hestia's company on Pompeian frescoes.

• The Romans - inspired by Cleopatra - used donkey milk to remove wrinkles. Nero's wife, Poppaea, would take donkeys with her on every trip.