Sunday, March 20, 2011

Hermaphroditus: A Lesson in Greek Mythology

Hermes, the God of Persuasion, and Aphrodite, everyone's favorite vixen Love Goddess, gave birth to a son--Hermaphroditus.  Being the son of the Goddess of all things love and beauty related, Hermaphroditus was, of course, incredibly good looking.


One day while bathing in a lovely spring, Hermaphroditus met Salmacis, the nymph of that spring.  As soon as Salmacis laid eyes on Hermaphroditus, she was in love.  She begged for the returned love of Hermaphroditus, but he wanted nothing to do with her.
Despite his rejection, Salmacis clung to her new found love, praying to the gods for their bodies to never be separated.  Lo and behold, her prayer was answered--the gods united the pair, making them one.
In case you haven't figured out by now, the term hermaphrodite--someone who has both the parts of a lady and a gent--was clearly derived from Hermaphroditus.  Enjoy your little nugget of wisdom!

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