30.) But according to the popular belief of the Greeks and their poetical descriptions, she was the goddess of love, who excited this passion in the hearts of gods and men, and by this power ruled over all the living creation.
A trace of this notion seems to be contained in the tradition that in the contest of Typhon with the gods, Aphrodite metamorphosed herself into a fish, which animal was considered to possess the greatest generative powers. 13.)Īccording to Hesiod and the Homeric hymn on Aphrodite, the goddess after rising from the foam first approached the island of Cythera, and thence went to Cyprus, and as she was walking on the sea-coast flowers sprang up under her feet, and Eros and Himeros accompanied her to the assembly of the other great gods, all of whom were struck with admiration and love when she appeared, and her surpassing beauty made every one desire to have her for his wife.Īccording to the cosmogonic views of the nature of Aphrodite, she was the personification of the generative powers of nature, and the mother of all living beings. 105.) Later traditions call her a daughter of Kronos and Euonyme, or of Uranus and Hemera. 190 compare Anadyomene.) With the exception of the Homeric hymn on Aphrodite there is no trace of this legend in Homer, and according to him Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione. Some traditions stated that she had sprung from the foam (aphros) of the sea, which had gathered around the mutilated parts of Uranus, that had been thrown into the sea by Kronos after he had unmanned his father. OURANOS & HEMERA (Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.21) OFFSPRINGĮNCYCLOPEDIA Aphrodite "Venus de Milo", Greek marble statue C2nd B.C., Musée du LouvreĪPHRODI′TE (Aphroditê), one of the great Olympian divinities, was, according to the popular and poetical notions of the Greeks, the goddess of love and beauty. ZEUS & DIONE (Homer Iliad 5.370 Euripides Helen 1098 Apollodorus 1.13, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.21, et al) Born from the castrated genitals of OURANOS in the sea's foam (Hesiod Theogony 188, Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.21, Apuleius 6.6, Nonnus Dionysiaca 1.86, et al) The content is outlined in the Index of Aphrodite Pages (left column or below). This site contains a total of 18 pages describing the goddess Aphrodite, including general descriptions, mythology, and cult.
Many other myths are detailed over the following pages. The persecution of Psykhe (Psyche), the maiden loved by the goddess' son Eros. The statue of Pygmalion which was brought to life by Aphrodite in answer to his prayers. The death of Hippolytos, who was destroyed by the goddess for scorning her worship. The race of Hippomenes for Atalanta, which was won with the help of the goddess and her golden apples. The Trojan War in which she supported her favourites Paris and Aeneas and was wounded in the fighting. The judgement of Paris in which the goddess was awarded the prize of the golden apple in return for promising Paris Helene in marriage. Her love for Ankhises (Anchises), a shepherd-prince. Her love for Adonis, a handsome Cypriot youth who was tragically killed by a boar. Some of the more famous myths featuring the goddess include:. In classical sculpture and fresco she was usually depicted nude. Her attributes included a dove, apple, scallop shell and mirror. She was depicted as a beautiful woman often accompanied by the winged godling Eros (Love). Venus Aphrodite riding goose, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., British MuseumĪPHRODITE was the Olympian goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation.
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