Hermaphroditus

This was the home of the Nymph Salmacis, who rather than being interested in hunting and athletics, was more concerned with her appearance and leisure. She was picking flowers when she saw Hermpahroditus, who she immediately became enamoured of. She approached and offered herself to him.

Hermaphroditus, not knowing what love was, did not understand, and was about to flee when Salmacis offered him free use of the pool. She then pretended to leave but spied on him in secret as he bathed. Jumping into the pool she wrestled with him, seeking an intimate embrace, but still he resisted. Finally in despair Salmacis voiced a prayer to the Gods that they should never be separated from that time on.

Her prayer was answered and as they were entwined, their bodies merged and in appearance they were made as one into a single form that could neither be called boy or girl, but appeared at the same time neither one, but both. Salmacis got what she wanted, but at a price, for though hermaphroditus was transformed into a being with both male and female characteristics, Salmacis was no more.

Hermaphroditus resembles pre-operative transsexuals and intersexed persons, in appearing to possess the characteristics of both sexes. As I write this, I am still pre-operative. However, one day I will have reassignment surgery and then be more like Attis than Hermaphroditus. In either case, I feel my mind and spirit is that of a woman, not a man, and therein lies the difference.