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Explore mythology and art with information about the classic stories of heroes and gods...from the myths of ancient Greece and Rome, to the legends of the Celts. Mythography presents resources and reference materials about mythology - including recommended books, and lexicons that explain Greek, Roman, and Celtic terms.

Gardner's Art Through the Ages

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Aphrodite in Art
Aphrodite in Myth
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home | greek | gods | free spirits | page 2 | Peitho



Peitho at a Glance

name | Peitho (Peiqw)

role | goddess of persuasion

Peitho in Greek Mythology
Peitho was the goddess of persuasion in Greek mythology. Although this goddess did not wield much power beyond her own small sphere of influence, she is nonetheless a figure of significance in myth, legend, and religion. For Peitho - in her role as an attendant or companion of Aphrodite - was intimately connected to the great Greek goddess of love of beauty. And clever ancient artists and poets exploited this natural connection between love and persuasion in their works.

The association between Aphrodite and Peitho also had an impact on Greek cult and religion. In some cases, the two goddesses were conflated to a certain extent, with the name Peitho appearing in conjunction with, or as an epithet of, Aphrodite's name. Again, this example demonstrates how the relationship between persuasion and love (or desire) was made obvious in more than just myth and legend in the ancient world.

In contrast to her clearly defined position in mythology and religion, Peitho's ancestry remains somewhat confusing. According to one of our best ancient sources (the Theogony of Hesiod), Peitho was the daughter of the Titans Tethys and Okeanos, which would make her an Oceanid and therefore sister of such notable goddesses as Tyche, Doris, Metis, and Calypso. However, it is worth mentioning that Hesiod's classification of Peitho as an Oceanid is contradicted by other sources.

Peitho's Roman counterpart was called Suada.

Who's Who in Classical Mythology This book is a great source for information about Greek and Roman mythology! Organized alphabetically, this who's who features information about over 1200 of the most intriguing characters from Classical myth and legend.	Bulfinch's Mythology The stories of Classical myth come to life in Bulfinch's book. This edition also features legends from other cultures.	Mythography Forums Do you have a specific question about Greek, Roman, and Celtic mythology? Then try the Mythography forum!