The only god that truly befriends Aphrodite is Apollo. Why do you believe so few of the gods show sympathy for her?
This was the one part of the story that I couldn’t get my head around. I didn’t really understand why everyone hated her so much. It felt like they all really hated each other but she was especially outcast. Maybe because she didn’t have parents and the rest of them did? That’s the only thing I can think that sets her apart. I found Hera particularly hateful especially after Aphrodite helped her and tried to get on friendly terms.
We see this happen throughout Greek mythology, and I thought the author nailed it in this book. The goddesses are jealous of Aphrodite - of her beauty, her irresistibility, her power over men. The gods all want her and are jealous that she chooses Ares over them.
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Aphrodite was beautiful, smart, headstrong, and competent. A combination that would make some mortals not like her! She knew herself and would not compromise. On the rare occasions she had to, she regretted it and usually made here feel bad about herself.
She and Apollo were not romantically involved so that made the relationship true friends. They were both good-looking and had the same interests. He also protected her. I think Aphrodite felt safe with him.
I totally agree with this!
When we read the myths as they have been handed down, it’s all about chaos, transgression, violence, jealousy, and revenge. All the “bad” traits we humans possess. Bear made her a woman with spunk and a quick wit, not just a beauty. Strong women are often on their own. Being branded a whore, she was the lowest of the low, and no one wants to be associated with “that”. Again, the myths are often about human traits that we are less than proud of.
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It seemed to me like many of the gods were projecting what they wanted Aphrodite to be onto her. They had all made up their minds about how the goddess of beauty would be, a balm for their jealously perhaps. It is much easier to hate an image than a whole person. If they got to know her, they would have to give up the idea of who they think she is.
I agree 100%. I feel like the Gods wanted her but couldn’t have her, and that angered them. The Goddesses were jealous of her beauty and her strong will. I feel like they secretly wished they had the power to speak their mind like she did.
I think that beauty is often equated to happiness and perhaps that is why the other gods had little sympathy for her.
Not sure except she could be a prickly pear, didn’t trust must and had been hurt so she protected herself. I also think a lot it was pure jealousy.
I think part of it was her special treatment by Zeus at the start, then I think they see her as just another pretty face. And As Janine mentioned she was a bit grumpy and mean at times. Overall, she just came in after they were all acquainted and had chosen sides. Sort of like if you moved into a new high school….
I think they saw Aphrodite as just a beauty, an airhead with nothing to contribute. They didn’t appreciate how beauty adds to life. They felt that their gifts or powers contributed more. I also feel that because she grew up on her own island away from Olympus she was viewed as an outsider.
I agree with Emily-Bahhar. I also think that they did not show sympathy for her because she wasn’t Zeus’ child. She had no one to support her until she an Apollo formed their friendship, except for the Graces.
Jealousy on the part of the women and unfulfilled desire on the part of the men. Since Apollo was depicted as being gay and extraordinarily understanding and a healer, he was neither jealous nor desirous of her.
Aphrodite isn’t really seen for who she is—people mostly react to how she looks and the feelings she stirs up in them. She brings out desire, attraction, even jealousy, and those can be uncomfortable emotions, so a lot of the gods keep their distance or judge her instead of trying to understand her. They end up reducing her to something to look at rather than someone to know. Apollo feels different because he isn’t caught up in those reactions, so he’s able to see her more clearly and connect with her in a more genuine way
I think the other gods didn’t trust her, not only for her pretty face, but because she was unknown to them. She hadn’t helped them fight the Titans. She had hidden on her island, protected from that war—the biggest war for the gods. Because she hadn’t declared a side in that war, they didn’t know what to make of her. Then she waltzed in as the goddess of beauty and love and they got jealous of how much power she had and I think they were afraid that she would make them feel things they didn’t want to feel. I saw most of their reactions as a defense mechanism and pettiness. The male gods wanted to possess her. The female gods wanted her gone (probably because the male gods wanted her). She upset the power structure on Olympus, so they lashed out at her and tried to control her, not knowing that she could not be controlled.
I think it was jealousy. She was not made to fight in the war. This combined with the vanity of the other goddesses made her a target
Cheryl, yes. The gods were really competitive, exhibiting many of the worst human traits.
I think it was jealousy, Also she did not really take time to interact with the other gods.
Donna- being a God meant you can be anything and do anything. Maybe God’s were written about to show that being able to do anything you want has consequences.