Imagine you are a lesser god (as Edith Hamilton calls them) and you received an invitation to a party that the Olympians are hos
ting. The rule of Xenia is that you must respect your host and they must respect and honor you equally. You must bring a gift in the form of a song that tells your story. What points will you include in your song
I imagined myself to be Hebe, the goddess of youth and youthful brides. If my father Zeus invited me to the party, I would wear my best party gown. I would also wear my golden wreath. Marriage to Heracles has made me happy; therefore, I would include instances of this happiness in my song to my parents. I would tell them of my life before marriage. I worked as a handmaiden for my mother Hera. It was my duty to help fill the cups of Olympian gods with nectar. I would keep her chariot ready whenever she wanted. I also gave my brother Ares a daily bath. It disturbed me that I was put to work as a maid even though I belonged to a royal family. I also did not like the way my mother always had disagreements with Heracles. I knew that he was a good person at heart and that he deserved a better life. Therefore, I was overjoyed when he chose to die, thereby becoming immortal after his human elements disappeared. I agreed to marry him because he was now free. Most of all, I was happy because my mother gave up her long-standing hatred for Heracles after our alliance. Our families united after the birth of my two sons, Alexiares and Anticetus, and I am consequently very happy.
