The Graces

Daughters of Zeus
The Graces in The Iliad (reference)
The Graces in The Odyssey (reference)
How to Cite this Page

Daughters of Zeus

The Graces are the beautiful daughters of Zeus and Eurynome.

The attendance of the Graces, Aglaia (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Festivity), and Thalia (Rejoicing), was the assurance of peace and happiness.

They wove the material for Aphrodite’s robe (Iliad, book 5, line 338). They also tended to Aphrodite when she returned to the island of Kypros (Cyprus), humiliated after she had been caught in the trap her husband, Hephaistos (Hephaestus), had set to catch her and Ares (God of War) in the embrace of love (Odyssey, book 8, line 300). The Graces bathed her, anointed her with ambrosial oil and dressed her in delightful clothing so that she might resume her loving duties.

Homer used the beauty of the Graces ironically to depict the horror of war when he describes a dead Trojan soldiers hair as being ‘lovely as the Graces’ before it was splattered with blood and mingled dirt. (Iliad, book 17, line 51)

The Graces are often confused with the Roman goddesses, the Charities.

(back to Top)

The Graces in The Iliad (listed by book and line)

05.338 ...When Diomedes stabbed Aphrodite she was wearing a robe that the Graces had made for her
14.268 ...Hera offers Hypnos (Sleep) one of the Graces, Pasithea, in marriage if he will help her trick Zeus
14.275 ...Hypnos (Sleep) makes Hera swear that he can marry one of the younger Graces, Pasithea, if he helps her trick Zeus
17.051 ...When Euphorbos (Euphorbus) was stabbed by Menelaos (Menelaus), his hair, as lovely as the Graces, was splattered with blood

(back to Top)

The Graces in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)

06.018 ...The handmaidens of Nausikaa had beauty given by the Graces
08.364 ...After Aphrodite was caught being unfaithful to her husband, Hephaistos (Hephaestus), she went to Paphos where the Graces pampered her
18.194 ...Athene (Athena) put an enchantment of beauty on Penelope using ambrosia just like Aphrodite does when she joins the dance of the Graces

(back to Top)

How to Cite this Page

Cut and paste the following text for use in a paper or electronic document report.

Stewart, Michael. "Graces", Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/graces.html (November 15, 2005)

Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report.

Stewart, Michael. "Graces", <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/graces.html (November 15, 2005)

Cut and paste the following html for use in a web report. This format will link back to this page, which may be useful but may not be required.

Stewart, Michael. "Graces", <i>Greek Mythology: From the Iliad to the Fall of the Last Tyrant</i>. <a href="http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/graces.html">http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/bios/graces.html</a> (November 15, 2005)

(back to Top)

Home • Essays • People, Places & Things • The Immortals
Greek Myths Bookshop • Fun Fact Quiz • Search/Browse • Links • About

Original content Copyright 1996–2005 Michael Stewart. All Rights Reserved.
Website design and structure Copyright 2005 Michael Wiik
Site development and maintenance by Messagenet Communications Research