APHRODITE AND THE SLAVE-WOMAN
A man was in love with an ugly, wicked slave-woman from his own household and
was quick to give her whatever she asked for. This slave-woman, bedecked with
gold and trailing a delicate purple robe around her legs, would pick fights
with the master's wife at every opportunity. It was Aphrodite, the goddess of
love and beauty, whom she regarded as the cause of her good fortune, so she
lit lamps in the goddess's honour, sacrificing, praying, begging, and beseeching
her every single day. Finally the goddess came to the couple as they were sleeping.
She appeared to the slave-woman in a dream and said, 'Do not give thanks to
me; I certainly did not make you beautiful! Indeed, I am furious that this man
would even think you were worth looking at.' |