Adonis
Adonis was a handsome young man in Greek mythology who was so good looking that his beauty attracted even Aphrodite, the goddess of love. He was born out of the incestuous union between King Cinyras of Cyprus and his daughter. As a child, Adonis learned to enjoy the sport of hunting. According to the myth Aphrodite warned Adonis of the dangers of hunting but he did not heed her advice. One day while on the hunt Adonis was attacked and killed by a wild boar, or by Hephaestus, Aphrodite's jealous husband, disguised as a boar. Aphrodite pleaded with the god Zeus to restore him to her. However, Persephone, the queen of the underworld, was so enchanted with the youth that she wanted to keep him for herself. To settle the fight between the two goddesses Zeus decreed that Adonis should spend half the year with Persephone in Hades and the other half with Aphrodite. When he stayed with Aphrodite on earth, plants and crops would grow and flourish. When he w
ent to the underworld with Persephone, the vegetation died. This myth was used by the Greeks to explain the cycle of the seasons. His death and resurrection with the help of Zeus is symbolic of the natural cycle of death and rebirth. When Adonis sent to the underworld with Persephone it turns to fall and winter. When he's on earth with Aphrodite it turns to spring and summer. The conflict between Aphrodite and Persephone over Adonis' beauty is also significant because it shows that even the Ancient Greeks believed that attractiveness is very important in this world, something that we still believe today. Also, Aphrodite's jealous husband Hephaestus murdering Adonis illustrates that the Ancient Greeks understood the insecurities of men, especially when they have a beautiful wife, in this case an actual goddess. Finally, Adonis' murder can also show that even gods, or those in power, can fear mere humans or people who are supposed to be beneath t
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Approximate Word count = 641
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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