A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Aphrodite.
Diodorus v.
73-5-
A ncient
World, 86 ff.
The Graces.
CHAPTER IX
MYTH AND RELIGION
I. The Gods
To Aphrodite he (Zeus) committed the care of the
mature age of girls; at which time they ought to marry,
and the oversight of other things used at nuptials.
To the Graces was granted power to beautify the face,
and to give a comely shape and proportion to all the members
of the body, , . . and to cause the persons to be
Athena.
grateful and thankful for what they received. . . .
To Athena he committed the care of olive yards, and
the planting of olive trees, and the extraction of the oil:
The Muses.
Hephaestus.
for before the birth of this goddess, this
tree grew wild,
disregarded among the trees of the wood, the use and
culture of it, as is now practiced, not then being known.
The making of garments likewise and architecture and
many other arts were revealed to men by this goddess.
She invented pipes and wind-music and many ingenious
tools and instruments for handicrafts; whence she was
called Ergane.
To the Muses their father allotted the invention of
letters and the composing of verses, called poetry. . . .
Hephaestus, they say, found out the working of iron,
brass, silver, and gold, and all other metals that require
forging by fire; and that the general use of fire in all other
cases, was found out by him, and discovered not only to
artificers, but to all other men; and therefore all the
masters of these arts pay their devotions, and offer their
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