Markos:Why, I'm Markos, of course! Only one of the most successful merchants in all of Greece. You really haven't heard of me? My name is known from Kephallonia to Kos! If you've ever paid money for something, I probably received a percentage. But enough about me. Let's go back to what you're doing here.
("What do you think of this place?")
Markos:It really is a lovely sight, isn't it? The temple, that is. Not the ladies. Although they are also lovely. Lovely, and lively, and... I'm sorry, what were we talking about?
("Let's begin the tour.")
Markos:In Greece, many love stories were told about the gods. How romantic! Sometimes they were heartwarming and happy, but they often ended in tears, tragedy, and a whole brood of illegitimate children. I'm looking at you, Zeus! Anyway, this tour will introduce you to some of these divine love stories, which may give you perspective on how the Greeks approached love in their own lives. Enjoy your visit, my friend! I'll come see you again when you finish the tour.
General view of ancient Korinth and Akrokorinth, picture atrributed to Konstantinou Dimitrios / 1870
Much like Athens, Korinth had its own akropolis, called the Akrokorinth.
The natural promontory provided an excellent view of the surrounding territory.
It was also the home of several sanctuaries, allegedly constructed in the 6th century BCE.
The Akrokorinth's most famous attraction was the Temple of Aphrodite.
Pausanias describes it as having statues of Aphrodite, her son Eros, and the son god Helios.
According to Strabo, the temple's most distinguishing feature was its servants, who acted as "sacred prostitutes".
However, Strabo is the only source for this information, and it is still hotly debated to this day.
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On the eve of the Battle of Salamis, the situation for the Greeks felt hopeless. After their loss at Thermopylai, the Persian king Xerxes' advance seemed unstoppable.
Seeking solace in religion, the women of Korinth gathered at the Temple of Aphrodite. According to the authors Pindar, Plutarch, and Athenaios, the women prayed to the goddess, begging her for something, anything, to stop the Persian invasion.
It seems their prayers were answered, and the Battle of Salamis ended with a glorious victory for the Greeks.
Scene of Zeus running after a woman from a red-figure krater / 450-430 BCE (Classical Greece)
Love played a large role in countless mythological stories.
Zeus himself was not immune to the feeling ,and fell for both mortals and other deities.
Some myths centered on forbidden feelings that led to tragedy, such as Phaedra's love for her stepson Hippolytos.
While marriage was prominent in mythology, it was usually presented as problematic.
For example, Aphrodite frequently cheated on her husband Hephaistos, and Medea's resentment against her ex-husband Jason eventually drove her mad enough to murder her children.
These less than ideal depictions reflected Greeks' idea of marriage, which they viewed as a civic duty instead of a romantic union.
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The Homeric "Hym to Aphrodite", which dates back to the 7th or 6th century BCE, tells a story of the goddess succumbing to the charms of a mortal man named Anchises:
"But upon Aphrodite herself Zeus cast sweet desire to be joined in love with a mortal man, to the end that, very soon, not even she could be innocent of a mortal's love; lest laughter-loving Aphrodite should one day softly smile and say mockingly among all the gods that she had joined the gods in love with mortal women who bare sons of death to the deathless gods, and had mated the goddesses with mortal men. And so he put in her heart sweet desire for Anchises who at the time among the steep hills of many-fountained Idea was tending cattle, and in shape was like the immortal gods. Therefore, when laughter-loving Aphrodite saw him, she loved him, and terribly desire seized her in her heart".
Marble statue of Aphrodite inspired by the Aphrodite of Praxiteles / 360 BCE (Classical Greece)
The goddess Aphrodite was one of the mightiest Olympians, and was typically associated with love, beauty, and sex.
She was worshipped all across the Ancient Mediterranean by men and women, both young and old.
Her origins differ depending on the version of the story.
The poet Hesiod says she was born from the severed genitals of Ouranos, while Homer's version of the myth names her as the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
Aphrodite appeared regularly in mythological stories, and had many mortal lovers.
Her favourite was Adonis, a beautiful boy who died tragically in a hunting accident.
Aphrodite was devastated by his death, so she created a cult called the Adonia to commemorate him.
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Eros was the god of sexual love. According to Ancient poets like Alkman, Ibykos, and Sappho, he was young and beautiful, but also cunning, unpredictable, and cruel. The tragedian Euripides later introduced a concept that Eros wielded a bow and arrows that inducted feelings of love in whoever they struck.
Eros was also a god of fertility, and was allegedly celebrated in places like Thespiae, Athens, and Elis. On vases and in other art, he was usually depicted as winged and boyish, and was often represented alongside Aphrodite. He was also associated with women, domestic scenes, and weddings.
Depending on the myth, he has had various different mothers, including Eileithyia, Penia, Iris, Aphrodite, and Gaia. Hesiod, meanwhile believed Eros was a primeval god who emanated from Chaos.
Markos:My friend, good to see you again. I bet you were surprised by some of the stories you heard. For a bunch of immortal beings, the gods certainly were saucy, ah? Tell me if there's anything else I can do for you.
(I'm ready for a quiz.)
("Take me to the next suggested tour.")
("Take me to a random tour.")
("Leave – That's all for now.")
Markos:Normally I don't let people go until they buy a souvenir, but for you, my friend, I'll make an exception.
