Editing Peitho (section)

==Mythology==
Peitho plays a limited role in mythology, mainly appearing with or as a companion of Aphrodite.

A degraded fragment by [[Sappho]] may identify Peitho as an attendant of Aphrodite, although other possibilities are [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]], [[Iris (mythology)|Iris]], or even [[Hekate]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|last=Breitenberger|first=Barbara|title=Aphrodite and Eros: The Development of Greek Erotic Mythology|url=https://archive.org/details/aphroditeerosdev00brei_533|url-access=limited|publisher=Routledge|year=2007|isbn=978-0-415-96823-2|location=New York, NY|pages=[https://archive.org/details/aphroditeerosdev00brei_533/page/n127 117]–135|chapter=Peitho: the Power of Persuasion}}</ref> Pindar characterizes Peitho, either as the abstract concept of persuasion or the goddess, as the wise one that holds the "secret key to holy love", associating her with Aphrodite.<ref>[[Pindar]], ''Pythian 9'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DP.%3Apoem%3D9 35-39].</ref> She is also described as the nurse of the baby [[Erotes]], who are Aphrodite's children.<ref name=":0">[[Nonnus]], ''[[Dionysiaca]]'', 3.84.</ref> A fragment by [[Ibycus]] describes Aphrodite and Peitho, who is described as tendered eyed (''aganoblepharos''), nursing [[Euryalus (Phaeacian)|Euryalus]] among rose blossoms.<ref>[[Ibycus]], Fragment 288.</ref>

[[Nonnus]] gives her a role within the marriage of [[Cadmus|Kadmos]] and [[Harmonia]], as she appears to Kadmos in the form of a mortal slave and covers Kadmos in a mist to lead him unseen through [[Samothrace]] to the palace of [[Pleiades (Greek mythology)|Electra]], Harmonia's adoptive mother.<ref name=":0" /> Peitho often appears on a 5th century epinetron by the [[Eretria Painter]] depicting Harmonia’s bridal preparations with Aphrodite, [[Eros]], [[Persephone|Persephone (Kore)]], [[Hebe (mythology)|Hebe]], and [[Himeros]] as in attendance.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Greek Vases: Images, Contexts and Controversies.|url=https://archive.org/details/greekvasesimages2002marc|url-access=limited|last=Neils|first=Jenifer|publisher=BRILL|year=2004|isbn=978-90-04-13802-5|editor-last=Marconi|editor-first=Clement|location=Boston, MA|pages=[https://archive.org/details/greekvasesimages2002marc/page/n86 76]}}</ref> In art, she was also depicted at the weddings for [[Dionysus]] and [[Ariadne]], [[Alcestis (play)|Alkestis and Admetos]], [[Thetis]] and [[Peleus]], and at the union of Aphrodite and [[Adonis]].<ref name=":3" /> A hydria attributed to the Meidias Painter shows Peitho fleeing from the scene of the abduction of the Leukippidai by the [[Castor and Pollux|Dioskuri]], indicating either that she persuaded the women into eloping or that she does not condone the marriage by Athenian standards.<ref name=":3" />

When [[Zeus]] ordered the creation of the first woman, [[Pandora]], Peitho and the [[Charites]] placed golden [[necklace]]s around her neck, and the [[Horae|Horae (Seasons)]] crowned Pandora's head with spring flowers.<ref>Hesiod, ''[[Works and Days]]'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0132%3Acard%3D59 69-82].</ref> Extravagant jewelry, particularly necklaces, were viewed with suspicion in Ancient Greek literature, as they were typically seen as a way for women to seduce men, making the necklace a way to enhance Pandora’s sexual attractiveness and persuasive abilities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Plutarch's Advice to the Bride and Groom and A Consolation to His Wife: English Translations, Commentary, Interpretive Essays, and Bibliography|last=Stafford|first=Emma|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1999|isbn=978-0195120233|location=Oxford, United Kingdom|pages=162–165}}</ref>

In art, Peitho is often represented with Aphrodite during the abduction of [[Helen of Troy|Helen]], symbolizing the forces of persuasion and love at work during the scene.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Erôs in Ancient Greece|last=Stafford|first=Emma|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2013|isbn=9780199605507|location=Oxford, United Kingdom|pages=198|chapter=From the Gymnasium to the Wedding: Eros in Athenian Art and Cult}}</ref> Her presence at the event may be interpreted as either [[Paris (mythology)|Paris]] needing persuasion to claim Helen as a prize for choosing Aphrodite, or Helen needing to be persuaded to accompany him to Troy, as Helen's level of agency became a popular topic of discussion in the 5th century.<ref name=":1" /> Peitho's presence brings the question of whether mortals have the ability to resist her power or whether they are bound to her persuasive abilities.<ref name=":1" />