Hermaphroditus

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hermaphroditus (/hərˌmæfrəˈdaɪtəs/ ⓘ; Ancient Greek: Ἑρμαφρόδιτος, [hermapʰródi:tos]) is a child of Aphrodite and Hermes. According to Ovid, he was born a remarkably beautiful boy whom the naiad Salmacis attempted to rape and prayed to be united with forever. A god, in answer to her prayer, merged their two forms into one and transformed him into a being of two sexes, both male and female. His name is compounded of his parents' names, Hermes and Aphrodite, and is the origin of the term hermaphrodite.

Because Hermaphroditus was a child of Hermes, and consequently a great-grandchild of Atlas (Hermes's mother Maia was the daughter of Atlas), he is sometimes called Atlantiades (Greek: Ἀτλαντιάδης).

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