In Theogony, Aphrodite's mother is the water of the sea, in which the goddess is "floating." This word choice further illustrates the destructive elements of Homer's tale in contrast to the nurturing of Hesiod. Finally, Aphrodite is called "Philommedes," or genital-loving, in Theogony, but referred to as "Philommeides," or laughter-loving, in the Iliad. In the selection of Homer's work, however, she is called by this name only to highlight the significance of the tears she sheds when telling her mother she had been stabbed.

The goddess Aphrodite is one element of Greek mythology that can be observed as a part of the overall shift in Greek philosophy and society. In this selection of Hesiod's Theogony, Aphrodite is presented as innocent, beautiful, and powerful. However, many years later Homer presents her sexuality as tainted, maimed, and weak. Additionally, Aphrodite's place in the lineage of gods was reduced from being older than...
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