What did Aphrodite give to Eros to enable him to shoot a shaft into Medea's heart?

Study for the LET for Teachers Major in English Test. Prepare with comprehensive quizzes, detailed questions, hints, and explanations. Get ready for your certification!

Multiple Choice

What did Aphrodite give to Eros to enable him to shoot a shaft into Medea's heart?

Explanation:
The key idea here is how love is sparked in myth. Eros, the god of love, is traditionally depicted with a bow and arrows, and Aphrodite gives him these weapons to pierce the hearts of mortals. In the Medea scene, the shaft that enters Medea’s heart comes from the arrows Eros shoots, made effective by the power Aphrodite lends him. So the instrument being given is a new bow and arrow—the tool that enables him to shoot love into Medea. The other items don’t fit the mythic image of how love is invoked—rings, swords, or sandals aren’t the devices used to induce romantic passion in this story.

The key idea here is how love is sparked in myth. Eros, the god of love, is traditionally depicted with a bow and arrows, and Aphrodite gives him these weapons to pierce the hearts of mortals. In the Medea scene, the shaft that enters Medea’s heart comes from the arrows Eros shoots, made effective by the power Aphrodite lends him. So the instrument being given is a new bow and arrow—the tool that enables him to shoot love into Medea. The other items don’t fit the mythic image of how love is invoked—rings, swords, or sandals aren’t the devices used to induce romantic passion in this story.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy