The Sacred Hearth

Child of Hermes and Aphrodite, this boy was more beautiful than either man or woman and was interested in neither. He was raised by his mother's companions, the naiads of Mt. Ida and spent his youth surrounded by peace and beauty. When still buy young, he decided to travel the world in search of adventure.

He travelled to Lyca and then to Caria. In the woods of Caria, he knelt to drink by the fountain of Salmacis. Salmacis, the nymph was gathering flowers nearby when he approached and curiousity moved her to see who was kneeling by her pool. When she saw him, she was charmed by his beauty and attempted to seduce him, but he rejected her. Hurt, she turned away with her head held high and disappeared into the forest.

Hermaphroditus then disrobed and entered the cool water to bathe, but Salmacis appeared under the water, caressing him and stealing kisses. When he attempted to escape, she clung to him tightly. Would the son of Aphrodite escape the fate of so many that she had punished for turning away her gifts? Would the sassy nymph escape her own punishment for accosting the child of this fearsome goddess?

"Oh Gods, let this boy never part from me!" Was the nymph's prayer. "Oh Gods, let me escape this wanton caress!" Cried he. And so as he struggled and she clung so tightly she seemed wrapped about him like a cloak, the Gods answered both of their prayers and their bodies melded into one. No more was there Salmacis the nymph and Hermaphroditus, no longer a young man, stood alone there in the cool spring no longer clung to, as was his wish, but Salmacis had her wish too. For now they resided in one body, both man and woman, and yet they were neither.

And Hermaphroditus, both minds in one head and both hearts in one body, wept bitter tears that their wishes should be thus fulfilled and cursed the pool that any who bathed there should be thus changed as well.

Adapted (and dressed up a bit) from Ovid's Metamorphosis IV