Kitap 3
1
What can we make of it? Won’t we have to admit that Eros and Hermaphroditus and Priapus, though sons of the same mother, are utterly different in appearance and habits? Eros is really handsome, and an archer invested with great power, and lord of all. Hermaphroditus is an effeminate pansy, half one thing and half the other in appearance, for you can’t tell whether he’s boy or girl; whereas Priapus is quite indecently masculine.
1
There’s no need to be surprised, Apollo. It’s not Aphrodite’s fault, but the fathers were different. Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and Priapus of Dionysus; Eros is nariously described as the son of Ares or Zeus or indeed Hermes; he is probably regarded by Lucian as the son of Ares rather than of Zeus. Why, even when the father’s the same, the one mother often has both boys and girls in her family. Take for example your sister and yourself.
1
Quite so, but we are alike and have the same interests. We’re both archers.
1
The same as far as the bow goes, Apollo, but no farther, for Artemis kills visitors in Scythia, while you are a prophet and healer of the sick.
1
What? Do you think my sister likes her Scythians? Why, the moment a Greek reaches Taurica, she’s all ready and waiting to sail off with him, in disgust at their human sacrifices. A reference to the Iphigenia in Tauris of Euripides, where Iphigenia, as priestess of Artemis, is compelled to-sacrifice foreigners to the goddess, but sails off with Orestes and Pylades, who carry off with them the statue of Artemis. Cf. On Sacrifices 13.
2
And the best thing she could do. But now as for Priapus—I’ll tell you something really funny. The other day—it was in Lampsacus—I was passing the city, when he invited me home with him, and put me up for the night. Now we’d gone to sleep in his dining-room, after and were pretty well soaked, when about midnight up gets our bold lad—but I’m ashamed to tell you.
2
And made an attempt on you, Dionysus?
2
Something like that.
2
How did you deal with the situation?
