The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (Homeric Hymn 5) lines 21-37

[hawkwing_lb]

To Aphrodite

Nor are the works of Aphrodite pleasing to Hestia,
A modest girl, the one crooked-counselling Kronos brought forth
As firstborn and lastborn both: by the will of aegis-bearing Zeus
A queen that both Poseidon and Apollo wooed.
But she really didn’t want them. Instead she firmly denied them,
And, grasping the head of her father, aegis-bearing Zeus,
She swore a great oath – which has been fulfilled! –
To be a maiden among the goddesses for all her days.
Instead of a wedding, Father Zeus gave her noble gifts
And she took her seat in the middle of the household – having won the best part.
She has honour in all the temples of the gods,
And in the households of all mortals – the ones who bleed from their wounds –
She was made the most important of gods.
Aphrodite cannot persuade or deceive the hearts of these.
But there is no other who’s escaped her,
Not among the blessed gods, nor among death-doomed mortals.
She even makes thunder-delighting Zeus senseless,
Who’s mightiest of the mighty and who claims honour as his due.

Comments

[hrj.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to figure out if the first part of this is about Hestia instead of Aphrodite.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

The Greek is clearer: there is case agreement. Hestia is the modest koure, the one brought forth by Kronos first and literally youngest.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

OK, I was following it correctly. Poor Aphrodite! 3/4 of her hymn is talking about another goddess!

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is one of the longer hymns. There are more than 200 lines. Not quite the Hymn to Demeter, but still! Long enough.