From a speech of Aristophanes:
"The sexes were not as they are now...the primeval man...had four hands and four feet, one head with two faces...Terrible was their might and strength...and they made an attack upon the gods...Zeus said: 'Methinks I have a plan which will humble their pride and improve their manners; men will continue to exist, but I will cut them in two...' After the division of the two parts of man, each desiring his other half, came together, and throwing their arms about one another, entwined in mutual embraces, longing to grow into one..."
--Plato Symposium
This Valentine's Day weekend, The Guardian ran a neat essay on love, sex, sentimentalism, etc., citing Aristophanes as one of its authorities.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1707408,00.html