Summary

Chapter 17, "Aphrodite, Hera, Athene", centres around three Olympian goddesses: Aphrodite, the goddess of love; Hera, Queen of the Gods; and Athene, goddess of war and wisdom. They are gathered at the wedding of Thetis and Peleus, although none of them particularly want to be there. They don’t enjoy each other’s company and are envious of the attention that the bride and groom are receiving. For her part, Thetis wishes none of them were there. She doesn’t even wish to marry Peleus, but has been forced into it by Zeus who fears a prophecy that her son would become greater than his father. Compelling her to marry a mortal neutralises this existential threat to the Olympian gods themselves. Then the three goddesses notice a golden ball with the words "Te kalliste", "For the most beautiful", written on it (146). The goddesses squabble...