Tammy Gagne - Aphrodite: Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty

Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. One of the main myths about Aphrodite takes place during a celebration of love, which she attended. A joyous event was about to take place on Mount Pelion. King Peleus was marrying a sea golden apple into the crowd. On the fruit she had written the words, To the Fairest.

Three goddesses claimed the gift. Hera was the wife of Zeus and queen of all the gods and goddesses. She was sure the apple was meant for her. Athena was the goddess of wisdom. She knew that no one was more beautiful than she was. She could not imagine that the gift could be for anyone but her. But Aphrodite was the goddess of love. She was a great beauty, herself. She too claimed the apple and the title of the fairest.

Eris had accomplished her goal. The guests were not focused on the happy couple. Instead, they could not stop watching the fight for the golden apple. When the three goddesses couldnt work it out themselves, they turned to Troy.

The three beautiful goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, await judgement by Paris to find out who is fairest among them.

Each of the goddesses believed herself to be the most beautiful. But all three goddesses still tried to bribe the young prince. Hera promised Paris great wealth and power if he gave the apple to her. Athena offered to make him victorious in war in exchange for the prize. Not to be outdone by the others, Aphrodite also made a promise. She told Paris that if he chose her, he would win the heart of the most beautiful mortal woman in the world. No one can say whether Paris made a fair decision. But he chose Aphrodite and took her up on her offer of love.

When Paris chose between the goddesses, he was living as a shepherd and did not yet know that he was a prince.

Goddess Fact

Greek and Roman myths tell the same basic stories. But the Romans gave the gods and goddesses different names. In Roman mythology, Aphrodite is known as Venus.

To Paris, the most beautiful woman was Helen, the wife of the Spartan King Menelaus. Aphrodite helped the prince hatch a plan to kidnap the young queen so they could run away together. Menelaus responded by sending more than 1,000 ships to find his wife and bring her back. Under Aphrodites influence, Pariss decisions led the people of Greece and Troy into the Trojan War.

Helen was taken away from Sparta to be with Paris.

The Goddess of Love and Beauty

In addition to being the goddess of love, Aphrodite was also the goddess of beauty. Many people of ancient Greece worshipped her. They hoped to be rewarded with great love of their own. Women thought worshipping Aphrodite would bring them children.

Aphrodite was also worshipped as a sea goddess. Sailors believed that she brought calm waters and safe travels. For this reason they often prayed to her before their voyages.

Goddess Fact

Aphrodites sacred animal is the dove. The goddess rode in a chariot pulled by doves. She is also linked with swans, and sometimes she is shown riding a swan.

Chapter 2

THE CREATION OF APHRODITE

Aphrodite is often shown rising from a shell, which symbolizes how she was born from the sea.

Myths like the story of the Gaia, the Earth goddess.

Aphrodite never knew her father. Uranus had other . When Cronus attacked Uranus with this weapon, parts of his body fell into the ocean and became the foam from which Aphrodite was born.

The ancient Greek poet Greece worshipped Aphrodite.

Goddess Fact

Aphrodites name comes from the Greek word aphros, which means foam.

A Different Birth Story

Some Greek myths tell the same story in different ways. Aphrodites creation story is a perfect example of this. According to some Greek myths, Aphrodite did not come from sea foam. These stories state that her parents were Zeus and Dione. Dione was a Titan goddessone of the first gods created by Gaia and Uranus, the gods of the earth and the sky. Her name is the female version of Dios, a form of the name Zeus. Although Zeus was married to Hera, some myths say Dione was Zeuss first wife.

Zeus and Dione

The Greek poet Homer passed this version of Aphrodites origins down to future generations of Greek people. He lived around the same time as Hesiod. Through their stories, Aphrodite and the other Greek gods eventually became known throughout the world.

Goddess Fact

Because of the myths in which Aphrodite is said to be the daughter of Dione, Aphrodite is sometimes called Dionaea, a form of her mothers name.

The Origins of Aphrodite

Although different cultures have similar gods and goddesses, each one is a bit different. Aphrodite is part of the Greek . But similar forms of the goddess also exist in other cultures. Aphrodite is also identified with the Phoenician goddess Astarte, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, and the Egyptian goddess Isis. Astarte was also her cultures goddess of heaven and war.

Aphrodite is different from the other goddesses found in the Mediterranean, though. She rules mainly over love.

Egyptian goddess Isis

Chapter 3

APHRODITE AND HER FAMILY

Aphrodite had no full brothers or sisters. But as the daughter of Zeus she had many half-siblings. They included her half-brothers Apollo, Ares, and Hermes. She also had several half-sisters, including Artemis, Athena, and Persephone.

Ancient Greece was a much different place than the world is today. Among the gods in Greek mythology, many brothers and sisters had romantic relationships. This was the case for Aphrodite and Ares. But Aphrodite was already the wife of Hephaistos, the god of fire. Much like her father and many other gods, Aphrodite was often unfaithful to her spouse.