Hippolytus (see Lucky in War, Unlucky in Love: Theseus) was just one of the mortals whom Aphrodite punished for denying himself erotic joys. Like the other gods and goddesses, however, Aphrodite also harshly punished those who refused to honor her properly (in her case, this meant celibates or others who withstood the pleasures of love).
(Zeus paid her back in kind by making her fall in love with the mortal Anchises-and conceive the hero Aeneas.) She took particular delight in causing her fellow Olympians to fall in love with mortals. Indeed, she had no other responsibility but to make love-and that she did with abandon.Īphrodite, who possessed a magic girdle that made its wearer an object of desire for everyone who saw her, was always happy to help young lovers. The goddess of love, lust, and mating never had to do a bit of work. Greatly apologetic, Aphrodite immediately abandoned her work and never took it up again.
Athena spotted her working at a loom and complained that this was her domain.
