Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

RELIGION AND EROTIC

later times that the girls had one or both breasts cut or burnt off, that they might not find themselves hampered when bending the bow or hurling the javelin. This etymology is improbable, but the final interpretation of the name is still unknown. They were clad like men in a short chiton, which often leaves the right breast bare. ‘Thus they were represented by preference in plastic art, yet nothing is to be seen of the mutilation of one breast—for zsthetic reasons. They fought with the heavy arms of the heroes, but were especially fond of bow and arrow, and the dreaded one- or twoedged axe; they were splendid horsewomen, yet occasionally they also fought from war-chariots. If the Amazons are to be thought of as what the Latin designates by the name virago (man-woman), yet there is nowhere to be presumed in the authorities a reversal of the sexual impulse. Still it is to be observed that they were considered to be disinclined to love, and that the later poets by preference speak of their chastity. (On the Amazons, see //iad, iii, 189; Steph. Byz., s.v. Apaloves ; Callimachus, Hymn to Diana, 237%. ; Ptol., Astr. fud.,i, 2, p. 18.). In the plastic art of the ancients the Amazons are a favourite motive, yet without any sexual note. As the goddess of female fruitfulness, finally, Artemis was worshipped in Persia and the other parts of Asia, where she bore the name Anakitis and was honoured by the temple prostitution of numerous hieroduli.

The form of the war-god Ares, as known to all readers especially from the Iliad, affords little scope for the tender emotions of love and sensuality ; but that nevertheless erotic fabulous stories weave their threads around him is shown by the tale of the ‘Hicit intercourse of Ares and Aphrodite (p. 186). Neither is this motive foreign to plastic art ; the so-called Ares Ludovisi in Rome shows the god, with arms laid aside, in a comfortable resting position, while an Eros is playing with his weapons.

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