Interesting note
In reading Apostolos N. Athanassakis' translations of (and notes on) The Homeric Hymns, I've found an interesting note on the Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite:
(180-190)
'...But Anchises has not simply seen Aphrodite; he has lain with her. In modern Greek folklore men who have been seduced into intercourse with a Nereid usually lose their wits and betimes their manhood. In the epic of Gilgamesh the hero rejects the advances by Ishtar because he knows that the lovers of this Eastern Aphrodite come to no good end. Kalypso does not harm Odysseus, but obviously Kirke has the power to deprive Odysseus of his manliness (Odyssey 10.301). Perhaps Anchises fears that, once the goddess has taken her pleasure with him, she will make him impotent to make sure that no mortal woman can ever boast of having lain with the favourite of Aphrodite.'
I'm not sure why it strikes me so much--but it does. I can't help thinking it's important, somehow. I'll have to think on this when I walk, later. (And if anyone has or knows any sources on modern Greek folklore & nymphai and men, please share them!)