1. Aphrodite’s Assumption Written and Illustrated by
A. Diaz

2. THERE WAS ONCE A GODDESS …
named Aphrodite. She was the goddess of love and beauty and she was the loveliest goddess in all of Greece.

3. When she awoke she would bathe in crystal waters on Mt
When she awoke she would bathe in crystal waters on Mt. Olympus, allowing water nymphs to wash and perfume her flowing hair.
Then she would break her fast on Ambrosia (the food of the gods), delicious warm breads, cheeses and fresh fruit juices.
Finally she would select a dazzling dress to wear and begin her day causing mortals to fall in love with the help of her son, Eros.

4. But on this day as she browsed through her royal closet the dress she wanted to wear was no where to be found! Aphrodite was bewildered. Had someone been in her closet and taken her dress?
She was immediately suspicious of her sister Athena. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, yet Aphrodite knew Athena had always been jealous of her good looks.
“I just know she took my dress!”, muttered Aphrodite and she stormed off to find her stealing sibling.

5. Aphrodite found her sister with her pet owl and yelled out, “Where is my favorite blue dress? I know you stole it!”
Athena was startled, but she was also used to Aphrodite’s assumptions.
She calmly said, “The blue dress father had made from the clear blue sky and crystal waters?”
“YES! I knew you had it! Give it back you thief!” Aphrodite shouted.
“Yes, I have it. Would you like to know why?” Athena said, stroking the feathers of her owl.
Aphrodite scowled and folded her arms across her chest, “I know why. You want to be like me and so you took my dress so you could wear it!”

6. Athena sighed at her sister’s fiery temper.
“Do you remember telling our sister Artemis that she could borrow a dress last night?”
Aphrodite frowned, “I vaguely remember her asking to go into my closet.”
Athena smirked, “You were deep in conversation with a rather handsome mortal, a pirate I believe and waved her away to get rid of her. You didn’t even ask what she wanted the dress for!”
Aphrodite, feeling unsure of herself now, sat down on a nearby fallen tree, “He was funny and cute. What did she want it for?”

7. “She wore it to celebrate the hunt of the new moon!” Athena exclaimed.
“She wore my delicate blue dress to go HUNTING!” Aphrodite shrieked.
Athena nodded, “When she came back from the hunt the dress was torn in many places and stained with blood. I made her give me the dress so I could attempt to clean and mend it before you found out.”
With that, Athena produced the cleaned and sewn up dress, neatly folded and tied with a bow of fresh wildflowers, to her sister.

8. Aphrodite gasped, grabbed the dress and threw her arms around her sister.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so sorry I accused you of stealing my dress!”
Athena hugged her sister tightly and said, “Maybe next time you will ask questions first, instead of making assumptions.”
“I will, I promise!” Aphrodite said. She grinned at her sister, “Now I need to find Artemis and tell her off!”
Aphrodite raced away laughing as Athena rolled her eyes and said, “You can come down now Artemis, she’s gone.”

9. Artemis gracefully leaped down from the high tree branch she had been hiding in. She cringed, “She’s going to kill me!”
“Well, next time think before asking to use her fancy garments for a hunt. Bring her some Cliff Roses and Crocus for a new perfume and she will forgive you.” Athena advised.
Artemis nodded, “I will. Thanks for sewing and cleaning the dress! I’ll find those flowers right now!”
Artemis dashed into the dark forest and Athena was once again alone with her owl.

10. She kissed the top of his feathery head, “Thank Mt
She kissed the top of his feathery head, “Thank Mt. Olympus you don’t cause me the grief that those two do! I hope this was a lesson to both of my sisters.” She looks directly at the UIM scholar reading her story, “And I hope it is a lesson to you too.”

11. THE END!