But of all others there is nothing among the blessed gods or among mortal men that has escaped Aphrodite. Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts. In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honour, and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses. So Zeus the Father gave her an high honour instead of marriage, and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion. But she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aegis, she, that fair goddess, sware a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would be a maiden all her days. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too, by will of Zeus who holds the aegis,-a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love Aphrodite's works. Nor does laughter-loving Aphrodite ever tame in love Artemis, the huntress with shafts of gold for she loves archery and the slaying of wild beasts in the mountains, the lyre also and dancing and thrilling cries and shady woods and the cities of upright men. She first taught earthly craftsmen to make chariots of war and cars variously wrought with bronze, and she, too, teaches tender maidens in the house and puts knowledge of goodly arts in each one's mind.

First is the daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis, bright-eyed Athene for she has no pleasure in the deeds of golden Aphrodite, but delights in wars and in the work of Ares, in strifes and battles and in preparing famous crafts. Yet there are three hearts that she cannot bend nor yet ensnare. Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the dry land rears, and all that the sea: all these love the deeds of rich-crowned Cytherea.

Homeric hymn 5