The Story of Priapus
Priapus was a rustic god of fertility, gardens, livestock and vegetables. He is most often called a son of Aphrodite and Dionysus, though some tellings name Hermes or another father. The story goes that Hera, disapproving of Aphrodite, cursed the child before birth, so he was born with an oversized body and his mother abandoned him.
He was raised among shepherds and grew into a god of the countryside. In one story he crept toward the sleeping nymph Lotis during a festival, but a donkey brayed, everyone woke up, and Priapus fled in embarrassment. Ever since, the donkey was linked with him and was offered to him in sacrifice.
His main place of worship was Lampsacus on the Hellespont, and from there his cult spread across the Greek and Roman world. Farmers set rough wooden statues of him in gardens, vineyards and orchards, often painted red and holding a sickle, to scare away thieves and birds. Roman poets wrote a whole collection of comic verses in his honor, and he remained a humorous, earthy figure rather than a grand one.
Famous Myths About Priapus
Cursed by Hera
Priapus was the son of Aphrodite, and in some versions Dionysus was his father. Hera, disapproving of Aphrodite, cursed the unborn child, so he was born with an oversized body that made his mother abandon him.
Lotis and the Donkey
During a festival, Priapus tried to approach the sleeping nymph Lotis. A donkey brayed and woke everyone up, and Priapus fled in embarrassment, which is why donkeys were sacrificed to him.
Priapus's Family Tree
Partners of Priapus
Children of Priapus
Frequently Asked Questions About Priapus
Who is Priapus in Greek mythology?
Priapus is a god of fertility, gardens, livestock and vegetables, worshiped especially at Lampsacus on the Hellespont.
Who are Priapus's parents?
Priapus is most often called the son of Aphrodite and Dionysus.
Why is the donkey linked to Priapus?
In one story, Priapus tried to approach the sleeping nymph Lotis, but a donkey brayed and woke her, so he was humiliated. Donkeys were later sacrificed to him.
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