I am kind of obsessed with the myth of Hermaphrodite and Salmacis. I find the song of Genesis on the topic the best retelling of this myth. Here is the lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/genesis/thefountainofsalmacis.html And here is the audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In2fRySroH8 It is a very old song, I think it date back from the 1970's. I also like it when a myth become a beautiful piece of music. This song justify the impact of Greek mythology still have on our modern word.
I like this myth for many reasons. One of them is being not one of the most popular one. Whe all heard about the Labyrinth with Thesus and the Minotaur, the Golden Fleece, the 12 labors of Hercules, the Trojan War or Oedipus. Secondly, it have an appeal that other myth doesn't have. It is quite different from other myths were there is action and maybe some blood spilled. This myth isn't about loosing life or the glory of a battlefield. I consider this myth as a birth: the birth of an human being that is half man and half woman. In Greek Mythology, birth of various beings is present but it is not all over the place. Usually, the Greek myths like to depict heroes doing great deed for the benefit of human kind.
Lastly, I find this myth is a poetic explanation for the existence of intersex people. For a long time, those who are intersex people had been called Hermaphrodites. The ancient Greek didn't knew what caused a small group of people having both sexes. They had to create a story for it. They had the interest in that topic to get down and think about it. I think it is nice of them.
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