Priapus/Priapos- Usually described as the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite, sometimes the son of Dionysus and Chione/Khione, or a son of Zeus, Pan, Hermes or Adonis with Aphrodite. He was cursed in Aphrodite's womb by Hera in vegeance for Paris picking Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess over Hera and Athena. As a result of the curse he was born ugly, foul minded and with a large erection (this is why he is thought to be the son of Hermes or Dionysus as both were phallic gods).
He is a rustic god of fertility who protects livestock, fruit plants, bees, gardens and sailors. He was said to be cast down from Olympus because of his ugly appearance and found and raised by shepherds.
He desired the nymph Lotis, daughter of Poseidon or Nereus, and tried to rape her in her sleep. A donkey brayed awakening the nymph and giving her a chance to escape. Everyone else nearby as well awoke and Priapus was humiliated. He continued to desire her so the gods turned her into a lotus tree out of pity. The nymph Dryope, raped by Apollo, plucked from this tree as she wanted the blossoms for her son and was turned into a black poplar for the offence. Priapus then killed the donkey.
Ovid tells another version of this tale, substituting Lotis for the goddess Hestia.
He was depicted a short with a huge penis and usually wearing a Phrygian cap and boots, holding a thyrsus like Dionysus or a caduceus like Hermes. The donkey, fish and bees were his sacred animals and fruit and flowers in general were also sacred to him.
His Roman counterpart was Mutunus Tutunus/ Mutinus Titinus, a phallic god of marriage. Usually depicted as just a phallus, on a coin he was shown as old, bearded and wearing a winged diadem.
No comments:
Post a Comment