Greek mythology

TrishD · Dec 13, 2007

I'm looking for someone well-versed enough in Greek mythology to help me come up with YA-friendly stakes in a wager between Athena and Aphrodite.

I've considered a power exchange--aegis for magic girdle, perhaps--but I see that being heavily biased toward Aphrodite, since I can't imagine Athena all that excited over having the power to make men and gods fall in love with her.

Any ideas?

elknutswife · Dec 13, 2007

Hmmm, that's a tough one. According to one of the books I have, Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, and not only the goddess of sexual love but also "of the affection that sustains social life." As Athena was a very active goddess, playing active roles in the lives of her worshippers, esp of the people of Athens, maybe there could be something there, with the social life. And all the goddesses are jealous of their beauty, wanting to be the most beautiful (that's how Paris got in his pickle with the whole Helen thing). Or maybe you could do something with the fertility. Maybe Athena wants that power for some reason.

TrishD · Dec 13, 2007

elknutswife said:
Hmmm, that's a tough one. According to one of the books I have, Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, and not only the goddess of sexual love but also "of the affection that sustains social life." As Athena was a very active goddess, playing active roles in the lives of her worshippers, esp of the people of Athens, maybe there could be something there, with the social life. And all the goddesses are jealous of their beauty, wanting to be the most beautiful (that's how Paris got in his pickle with the whole Helen thing). Or maybe you could do something with the fertility. Maybe Athena wants that power for some reason.

Hmmm... the war goddess using Aphrodite's power to spread social love = peace. Not bad!

Margaret in England · Dec 14, 2007

Remember the Iliad?

There were disputes between the gods here. When Paris, son of Priam of Troy, chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess, Athena and Hera were affronted. We know how all of this developed into the Trojan war.

So how about a bit of lateral thinking on this one? Could the two goddesses be in conflict over a mortal or something mortal?

JJ Cooper · Dec 14, 2007

How about a friendly wager over their kids, Erichthonius and Eros (cupid). Although Athena was supposedly a virgin, she raised Erichthonius. And we all know who Cupid is. Mums always get competitve over their kids - maybe some sort of contest between the kiddies.

JJ

TrickyFiction · Dec 14, 2007

They could stake a human. Greek gods were always playing humans like game pieces.

TrishD · Dec 14, 2007

Being in conflict over a mortal or something mortal has appeal.

In my telling of the tale, Aphrodite is very keen on all things human. She's been meddling in Hollywood affairs and she loves human technology, particularly the cell phone and its text messaging capability.

Hmmm.... *thinking*

job · Dec 14, 2007

Two female goddesses quarrelling over a young page or a boy.

(Remember the quarrel between Oberon and Titiana in Midsummer Night's Dream?)

See here for the quarrel of Aphrodite and Persephone over the child Adonis.

FinbarReilly · Dec 16, 2007

Keep in mind that Athena was also the goddess of wisdom, ships, chariots, weaving, craft, and horses, and she was the patron of Athens. Also, she wasn't the goddess of war, per se, but the goddess of strategy; as such, any contest where brain is emphasized would be of interest to her. And don't forget her competition with Arachne, or that she backed or advised a number of heroes.

Another way to look at it is that Athena represents careful thinking, whereas Aphrodite represents improvisation and passion. There's a large number of contests that can come off that alone.

If it helps...

FR

TrishD · Dec 16, 2007

FinbarReilly said:
Keep in mind that Athena was also the goddess of wisdom, ships, chariots, weaving, craft, and horses, and she was the patron of Athens. Also, she wasn't the goddess of war, per se, but the goddess of strategy; as such, any contest where brain is emphasized would be of interest to her. And don't forget her competition with Arachne, or that she backed or advised a number of heroes.

Another way to look at it is that Athena represents careful thinking, whereas Aphrodite represents improvisation and passion. There's a large number of contests that can come off that alone.

If it helps...

FR

That's how I've portrayed them so far in my story... Athena as more serious, thoughtful, and reserved, while Aphrodite is outgoing, fickle, and rather superficial. While Athena is lamenting the state of warfare today, Aphrodite is amusing herself by meddling in the lives of Hollywood stars and British royalty.

But then I reach the point where Aphrodite's boredom gets the better of her and she suggests a challenge for Athena. I've got the contest terms set, but the stakes are elusive. As I mentioned, when Athena reaches the critical point where she must chose between winning the wager or following her heart, she has to have a compelling reason not to just walk away from the competition... other than just her pride.

Voyager · Dec 16, 2007

You should also read the Aeneid. The main conflict of which is Juno's grudge against the Trojans and Aeneas (Aphrodite's mortal son). Though the pantheon is Roman, the characters are based on those of Homer's Illiad. You might get some ideas there and it's a beautiful and wonderful poem.

mommyjo2 · Dec 16, 2007

Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the blacksmith, and Athena loved the techno stuff. Perhaps they could wager for his time - the winner gets to have him make something for them? Or something truly special that he made, Athena to put it to use, Aphrodite to use it as a token of his love.
Hephaestus was also supposedly the father of Erichthonius by rape, but that's not exactly YA friendly, is it!

TrishD · Dec 16, 2007

mommyjo2 said:
Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the blacksmith, and Athena loved the techno stuff. Perhaps they could wager for his time - the winner gets to have him make something for them? Or something truly special that he made, Athena to put it to use, Aphrodite to use it as a token of his love.
Hephaestus was also supposedly the father of Erichthonius by rape, but that's not exactly YA friendly, is it!

LOL Nope, not quite. I also thought about Aphrodite being able to rid herself of Hephaestus to be with Ares (or any one of her other lovers) if she wins the bet, but that's not real YA friendly either.

But I do like the idea of having him make something... especially if Aphrodite would have him make something Athena wouldn't want her to have.

TrishD · Dec 16, 2007

Voyager said:
You should also read the Aeneid. The main conflict of which is Juno's grudge against the Trojans and Aeneas (Aphrodite's mortal son). Though the pantheon is Roman, the characters are based on those of Homer's Illiad. You might get some ideas there and it's a beautiful and wonderful poem.

I'll pick it up tomorrow. It's been years since I've read it.

HeronW · Dec 17, 2007

Athena vs Aphrodite

Hmm, pitting the goddess of war, wisdom and weaving against the goddess of love. Can you let me know who wins? :}

Beginnings: Athena sprang fully armored and weaponed from the brow of Zeus, Aphrodite rose from the waves, clothed only in her hair, naked on a clamshell.

Athena protects Athens, has an owl on her shoulder, and got royally teed off at Arachne beating her by weaving a portral of the gods' misdeeds. She struck the girl with her shuttle. In shame, Arachne hung herself. In spite, Athena changes the girl into a spider.

Metamorphoses by Ovid, “Thou shall live—hiding in corners, weaving thread from thine own flesh. There shall you exist between heaven and earth.” Athena sprinkled Arachne with Hecate’s herb and her body shrunk and changed.

Due to the gods, wedded or no, fighting over Aphrodite's beauty, Zeus marries her off the the lame smith, Haephetus. Her fidelity lasts as long as it takes to say, 'Hey Ares, wanna horzontal boogie?'

Knowing the place, the perpetrators and the time, Haephestus sets a trap, a net drops that traps the two of them in coitus interruptus. Neither can break free and the lame smith invites all the gods to see the guilty duo trapped. That sort of backfires because all the male gods are leering at Aphrodite and wish they were Ares, all the goddesses think she's a tramp and Ares a cur but wouldn't they like to have his sandals parked under their beds?

Who can make people do the right thing? Athena is wisdom and war--knowing when to fight, vs Ares who just likes to shed blood. Her teaching of weaving made Greek haute couture the stuff to wear and hang on the walls for centuries. She is intellect.

Aphrodite rules love in all its forms: filial, jealous, up-on-a-pedestal, for a fine horse, for a best friend, for self, for country, for home. She is emotion.

I can't decide! :}~

Greek mythology

TrishD

elknutswife

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TrishD

Margaret in England

JJ Cooper

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TrickyFiction

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TrishD

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

FinbarReilly

TrishD

Voyager

Ribbed for your pleasure.

mommyjo2

Bad grammar make me [sic]

TrishD

TrishD

HeronW

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