Blog 2/18/18
Something ironic that I noticed throughout my readings was the moment in Book 5 when Aphrodite was stabbed by Diomedes. This moment was actually very funny because gods and goddesses are usually portrayed as very powerful characters. However, Aphrodite returns to Olympos and immediately runs to her mother. Aphrodite's mother Dione was comforting her, explaining the many occasions in which mortals attacked gods. In addition, Zeus even told Aphrodite to stay away from the war and let Athene handle it. This moment made Aphrodite sound childish and extremely powerless. She was certainly not portrayed as a strong goddess in this book.
One has to wonder, if Diomedes had gone against her completely on his own (without the help and approval of Athena), whether Aphrodite would have been as helpless. Zeus smiles at her and Dione commiserates with her, but in a way, both are speaking in ways to restrain her from further action. Dione gives all of her examples as ways the gods have suffered by mortal hands (and then met bitter punishments), and that these events must be endured. Zeus instructs her to keep away from the battlefield. In a way, each of these speeches are limiting her range of action. Perhaps she might have done something once her wound was healed, if Athena had not been intricately involved with her wounding.
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