Pandora's Myth
In the patriarchal world of ancient Greece women were often perceived as simpleminded, irrational beings that were created for an evil purpose; therefore love was not often affiliated with them. The popular myth of Pandora, the first woman created, is a strong example of this idea, as in the myth she is created as a punishment for mankind. Although a majority of myths reflect this same ideology there are a few that do not, such as Aristophanes’ myth on the origin of love, sexualities, and genders. His idea of the origin of women is much more positive that the one expressed in Pandora’s myth, and Aristophanes’ myth also pushes the concept of love between man and woman, as well as different genders.
The origin of men and women as told by Aristophanes’ is very different to how it is shown in Pandora’s myth. In the latter men were created first and women were created later on as a punishment for men. While Aristophanes narrates that in the beginning of time there were already three genders: men, women, and the combination of the two. Each gender was a combination of two beings, a man was two men combined, a woman was two …show more content…
As explained in his myth there were three genders being man, woman, and the combination of the two. Aristophanes explains Zeus was angry at these humans because they were strong and attempted to attack the Gods, so instead of killing them and risking losing their gifts and sacrifices, he split them in half. Because of this love was created, which is the feeling of wanting to be whole again. Therefore the men who come from man are attracted to other men, the women who come from woman seek other women, and the women and men who came from the androgynous being seek each other out. Aristophanes sees nothing wrong with any of these different type of sexualities and sees them as something normal for humans to want to return to their original state of being
The origin of men and women as told by Aristophanes’ is very different to how it is shown in Pandora’s myth. In the latter men were created first and women were created later on as a punishment for men. While Aristophanes narrates that in the beginning of time there were already three genders: men, women, and the combination of the two. Each gender was a combination of two beings, a man was two men combined, a woman was two …show more content…
As explained in his myth there were three genders being man, woman, and the combination of the two. Aristophanes explains Zeus was angry at these humans because they were strong and attempted to attack the Gods, so instead of killing them and risking losing their gifts and sacrifices, he split them in half. Because of this love was created, which is the feeling of wanting to be whole again. Therefore the men who come from man are attracted to other men, the women who come from woman seek other women, and the women and men who came from the androgynous being seek each other out. Aristophanes sees nothing wrong with any of these different type of sexualities and sees them as something normal for humans to want to return to their original state of being