Double tradition in Aphrodite’s birth

Aphrodite double tradition comes up over the controversy about her birth. Some people consider her origin Greek, while others think that it is foreign (Fjkluth 1). The problem of her origin is symbolic, because of many controversial attributes concerning her power over beauty and love. Although she was the goddess of love and beauty, she married the god of war, and instigated the Trojan War, which was the result of the disputes over beauty (Fjkluth 1). It is believed that Aphrodite was born out her father’s castrated genitals, which fell into sea, foamed and she was carried by sea to Cyprus or Cythera.

What does the story of Actaeon show us about Artemis?

Actaeon died after a curse by the Greek goddess Artemis (Kudadasi 1). Actaeon saw Artemis bathing naked in a stream. Artemis was very strict about chastity, and was largely opposed to the idea of impurity. She was also very vengeful, and made Actaeon’s dogs turn against him when he saw her naked.

How did the gods influence Odysseus’ journey?

The role of gods is of fundamental importance in Odysseus’ journey. Zeus, the chief god, revered even by other gods, rescued Odysseus from Calypso with a help of Hermes (InfoBarrel 1). Hermes was the god’s messenger, and he did everything to make sure that Odysseus was unharmed during his journey to Ithaca. Odysseus was saved from harm through Hermes’s omnipotence and magic herbs, which protected him from the sorcery. The goddess Athena used her power over the wind to aid Odysseus in his flight to Phaecia, and calmed the sea when his boat rocked dangerously in the rough sea waves, caused by Poseidon, the angry god, who challenged Odysseus. Athena also helped him to disguise himself by creating a fog in the sea, so that he could travel undetected.

Why is it difficult to give a clear, specific picture of Celtic myth?

Celtic myths have a hazy past, due to their incoherent passing through history, and the birth of Christianity. Celtic myths passed from generation to generation orally before the rise of Christianity (Living Myths 1). Although the Christian leaders of the early centuries drastically modified the myths, they played a major role in the survival of many of the Celtic myths know today. From the very beginning Christianity was skeptical to the myth, alluding to their pagan origin. In the fifth century St Patrick dispelled the doubts about the Celtic myths. Henceforth, Christian monks started to record the myths (Living Myths, 1). Some myths passed on as Christian stories, we hear of today, and their Celtic origin is therefore in dispute.