Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite - Essay Example

Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite The theme of love has had a long history even among the immortals and has been a source of conflict. The quest for love is in Aphrodite’s purpose in seeking Zeus. It is challenging at times to ascertain who the speaker in the poem is though it is safe to assume that, for the poem Hymn to Aphrodite, Sappho is the speaker.  It also appears that Aphrodite is reacting to Sappho’s request, but also due to translation, it is unsubstantiated.  The Hymn to Aphrodite is sometimes referred to as fragment 1 and is the only poem by the ancient Greek lyric poet Sappho that has survived in whole. The poet is recorded, in antiquity, to have published several poetry books, but remarkably little of her work survived up to date in entirely. The survival of the Hymn to Aphrodite is attributed to a roman orator by the name Dionysus who lived by 30 BCE in Rome who quoted the entire hymn in one of his works; otherwise, the work would have disappeared in just like the others. Sappho writes the Hymn to Aphrodite in meter referred to as the Sapphic stanza or the Sapphics, which is named after her. The Greek meters have a quantitative feature, which means that they consist of long and short alternative syllables in a consistent pattern (Sappho. & Barnard, 1958). In the beginning of the Hymn to Aphrodite, an identified voice calls the immortal goddess Aphrodite. Aphrodite is the daughter of mighty Zeus who uses her skills to trick reluctant lover. The speaker can be said to be Sappho imploring on Aphrodite to heed to her wishes. Sappho, who is assumed the speaker in the poem, writes in the third person explaining to the goddess that she is a loyal priestess and continues to describe a part of the life of the Aphrodite (Shelmerdine, 2002). She has a love for a person that she explains that is unrequited and it is tormenting her to extent of killing her. Sappho requests Aphrodite to give her force and support person to fall in love with her.  Because of the misperception created when translating ancient Greek, it is challenging to determine if the events the narrator of the poem has defined are in present, past or future.  It is also problematic at times to tell who the speaker is although it is safe to assume that, for the popular, the poem, Sappho is the speaker.  At one, point, however, it appears that Aphrodite is communicating in response to the request made by Sappho, but additionally since it is a translation; it is not clear (Sappho & Barnard, 1958). The poet reminds Aphrodite of her piety in the former and of the tunes that have been composed in her morality, and of how the divinity has formerly perceived and responded to the speaker’s requests. It is clear fifth stanza that it is Sappho who is seeking the goddess’ intervention when Aphrodite replies. Aphrodite assures Sappho that although the lover may be reluctant, he or she will soon reciprocate Sappho’s love. The concluding stanza repeats Sappho’s pleas for Aphrodite to fight on her behalf and alleviate her misery. The reader notices the repetition of “again” that stresses the nature of romance that is cynical. The moment when Aphrodite is “asking again” remains in the memory. Sappho recall the when the Aphrodite when she met again. It is clear that Sappho have had several encounters when she falls in love and Aphrodite has always come to her rescue (Fleischmann, 2013). The composition, despite the lack of the date and place of publication, it is assumed that it was written in the sixth BCE. During this period, Sappho used to organize groups of her young students who were her students into what is referred to as Thiasos. Thiasos is a cult that worshiped Aphrodite with poetry and songs. The Hymn to Aphrodite is most likely a composition of this cult with the aim to worship Aphrodite. Author reminds Aphrodite of the songs that have been sung in her honor her devoutness in the past how the goddess has previously heard and answered her appeals. It is clear that Sappho herself is the one who looking for the goddess’ involvement. In the sixth stanza, though it is not clear about the gender of the lover, but Aphrodite promises Sappho that though he or she may be hesitant now, he or she will soon consent and return Sappho’s love (Homeric Hymns. 2013). The Hymn involves a tension between immorality and immorality. Aphrodite suffers the humiliation of falling in love with a human being an indignity bestowed to him by Zeus as punishment. This shows the battle between a goddess and Zeus. At some point, Zeus ends the sexual relationship that existed between gods and mortals that was controlled by the Aphrodite. To do this, he turns the power of Aphrodite to herself. To defeat a god, one should turn his or her power against the god. The punishment comes after Zeus cause all gods to fall in love with mortals. He turns their power against themselves, a case of self-destruction. When one falls in love, the feeling eats up the inside of the person eventually succumbing to the weight of the feelings. Sappho brings out this phenomenon. Even the gods can fall in love, and sometime the relationship turns out to be immoral (Segal, 1974). Zeus exempts Athena, Hestia, and Hera from falling in love with mortals. It is because of this, Aphrodite beds with Ankhises and they both sires Aeneas. She is ashamed by what has happened to her. This becomes apparent from her words meant for Ankhises after she comes aware, but she promises him that he will not agonize from their union if he can keep unpretentiously. The hymn is notable for attributing Aphrodite power to make not only humans mate, but also animals and birds. It reviews the story of the marriage of Tithonosis and Dawn. Tithonosis made immortal at his deific wife’s wish, but still subject to aging. Even Zeus has one of his exploits recounted with Ganymedes, of which he adored so much that he made eternal before making him his successor. The element of sadness comes in when Ankhises, is promised the beautiful woman, and when he learns that he has bedded a divinity that will not remain in his life. The hymn depicts a family divided. Ankhises were killed by Zeus for boasting. There is a note of sadness when one associates the eternity of the gods, with their interminable youth, to the certainty of old age and death for ordinary mortals (Segal, 1974). In describing the roles of the goddess, Sappho also creates a distinct role for herself. She is a mortal who suffers from unrequited love, is unable to overcome her sorrow, through mortal capacities, and humbles herself before Aphrodite. How she describes Aphrodite clarifies the two realms Aphrodite hears the song of Sappho “from far away” (line 6). This shows the distance between Sappho a mortal and goddess Aphrodite. Therefore, she has to sing a powerful song to reach the goddess (Segal, 1974). In conclusion, the Hymn to Aphrodite depicts Sappho pleading to the goddess Aphrodite for her assistance in getting love. Who is the persona in the hymn is not clear due to translation, but the reader cannot resist assuming the persona is Sappho. She brings out the role of Aphrodite and her role in the hymn. The hymn also shows the tension between the immortal and immortality. References Fleischmann, T. T. (2013). Hymn to Aphrodite. Critical Survey Of Mythology & Folklore: Love, Sexuality & Desire, 225-233. Homeric Hymns. (2013). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1. Sappho. & Barnard, M. (1958). Sappho. Berkeley: University Of California Press. Segal, C. (1974). The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite: a structuralist approach. The Classical World, pp. 205--212. Shelmerdine, S. C. (2002). The homeric hymns. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co. Read More