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The name given to all people with both
masculine and feminine qualities, and more particularly
applied to a son of Aphrodite and Hermes.
Hermaphroditus was raised by nymphs in Phrygia. He was
remarkably handsome. One day, he was walking by a lake
when the nymph of the lake fell in love with him. She
made advances which the young man rebuffed.
Hermaphroditus was attracted by the clear water,
undressed himself and jumped into the lake. The nymph,
Salmacis, saw him and embraced him, but he tried to get
away. Salmacis prayed to the gods that they should never
be separated, the gods granted this wish and fused them
into one body. Hermaphroditus thereupon asked the gods
that anybody who bathed in this lake should lose his
virility, which was also granted. |
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