Greek Gods And Goddesses: Aphrodite, The Deity Of Lust, Love, And Beauty
FALKENSTEINFOTO/Alamy Stock PhotoThe ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite, known to the Romans as Venus.
The Greek goddess Aphrodite was the Olympian deity of love, beauty, and passion.
According to one of the most enchanting tales of her origin, she was born from the sea foam, emerging fully formed off the coast of Cyprus — a story famously recreated by the artist Sandro Botticelli in his painting, The Birth of Venus.
Public DomainThe Birth of Venus (1485).
As the embodiment of beauty and desire, Aphrodite had the power to kindle love and longing wherever she went — and her romantic entanglements often stirred up drama on both Olympus and Earth. She was married to Hephaestus, the craftsman of the gods, but her affections often wandered, notably to Ares, the god of war, among others. These liaisons were not just scandalous, though; they played pivotal roles in many myths about the Greek gods, influencing other narratives and intertwining her story with those of heroes and mortals.
Aphrodite’s role, however, extended beyond mere romance. She possessed a kind of soft power, capable of swaying the tide of human affairs through allure and attraction. This aspect is vividly portrayed in the story of the Trojan War, in which Aphrodite gifts the golden apple to Paris — which ultimately led to the conflict that shook the ancient world when Paris in turn gifted the apple to Helen of Troy, ensnaring her heart.
Public DomainVenus, Adonis, and Cupid by Annibale Carracci, 1595.
Festivals dedicated to Aprhodite, such as the Aphrodisia, were celebrated with great joy and revelry, reflecting her associations with love and fertility. Her name is also where we get the word “aphrodisiac.” Similarly, there was the festival of Aphrodisia held in her honor in several Greek cities, including Athens and Corinth, which involved various sacrifices and processions in her honor.
In some regions, notably Corinth, there were also those who practiced sacred prostitution, where priestesses engaged in ritualistic acts as a form of worship to the Greek goddess of love. Many sacred sites dedicated to Aphrodite were adorned with flowers, sculptures of her likeness (the most famous of which is the Venus de Milo), and filled with aromatic incense.
