Hermaphroditus
by Holly Hutto
$225
Acrylic on board. One of the erotes, winged gods associated with love and sex, Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. The nymph Salmacis was in love with him, but her spurned her after she pursued him while he was swimming. She prayed to the gods to join them together. Her prayers were answered and their bodies merged into one--half man and half woman. Hermaphroditus then made a request of his parents-- that whoever bathed in the pool where he was transformed would themselves be transformed as well.