Kuganthrope
03-07-2009, 01:18 PM
The nymphs of mount Idi (Ίδη) in the island of Crete, raised once in those caves a boy, whom they named "Hermaphrodite" (Ερμαφρόδιτος). That was his name because on his face, one could make out the grace and beauty of both of his parents : Hermes and Aphrodite.
When he was 15, he started to wander around so as to explore the world. He once stopped to rest by a lake, near Karia (Καρία). That was the territory of a nymph called Salmakis (Σαλμακίς), who fell instantly in love with Hermaphrodite. Her attempts to seduce, or maybe to provoke the interest of the young boy were not succesful; the young man, having no experience in love's affairs, remained completely apathetic.
The nymph then pretended that she left, while in fact was hiding in the forest, lurking. When she saw Hermaphrodite diving in the water to refresh himself, the lust for him overwhelmed her and the nymph quickly jumped in the waters, and she grabbed him very hard. Then, Salmakis pleaded the gods to unite himself and herself into one body. And so, Hermaphrodite's body assimilated with the feminine body.
When he was 15, he started to wander around so as to explore the world. He once stopped to rest by a lake, near Karia (Καρία). That was the territory of a nymph called Salmakis (Σαλμακίς), who fell instantly in love with Hermaphrodite. Her attempts to seduce, or maybe to provoke the interest of the young boy were not succesful; the young man, having no experience in love's affairs, remained completely apathetic.
The nymph then pretended that she left, while in fact was hiding in the forest, lurking. When she saw Hermaphrodite diving in the water to refresh himself, the lust for him overwhelmed her and the nymph quickly jumped in the waters, and she grabbed him very hard. Then, Salmakis pleaded the gods to unite himself and herself into one body. And so, Hermaphrodite's body assimilated with the feminine body.