Aphrodite

The Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Fertility. <3

Eros

• Aphrodite’s son and constant companion.

• Born from her affair with Ares

• A boy with wings and bow and arrows as well as a flaming torch

• Roman name-Cupid

Aphrodite’s Temple

• The priestesses were not considered “prostitutes.”

• Temple prostitution was when the priestesses had intercourse with a man who would pay

• The offerings would go to benefit the temple

• Women would do this so Aphrodite would bless them with large families.

Hermaphrodite

• Cleverly named child of Hermes and Aphrodite• Nymph saw Hermaphrodite bathing and fell in

love• Prayed to gods they would never be separated• Gods granted her wish and bonded them

together

Pygmalion

• King of Cyprus• Angered at immorality of women• Created ivory statue of his ideal woman that Aphrodite

granted life to• This formed the basis of the play Pygmalion and the

musical My Fair Lady

Myrrha

• Beautiful witch • Great Granddaughter of Pygmalion• Mother boasted that she was more beautiful

than Aphrodite• As punishment, she fell in love with her

father• After 12 nights her father realized who she

was and chased her• She turned into a myrrh tree• Gave birth to Adonis

Anchises

• He was a mortal man, making it inappropriate for Aphrodite to pursue him

• Had a form of a god• Prince of territory nearby

Troy• Would later be carried out

of Troy after its fall

Adonis and Aphrodite

• Aphrodite fell in love with him after Zeus put the desire in her heart

• Aphrodite could no longer boast

• She went to him dressed her best, but disguised her goddess self

• Walk to his cabin where he let her into his house

The Happily ever After

• Aphrodite gave birth to a child• Told Anchises her real

identity • There son was raised by

nymphs and then given to their father

• Prevented him from telling anybody about it

• He bragged about it anyways• Became lame as punishment

Other interesting facts

• Adonis, who she would later fall in love with, was her great-great grandson

• Had many love affairs, cheating several times on Hephaestus

• His wife only so Zeus could keep the peace

• Remained however, a virgin goddess

Symbols

• Most things considered tokens of love now come from her symbols including seashells, the evening star, many perfumes, the rose, gold and pearls

• Some of her more unusual symbols are The number 5, bees, goats, artichokes, and a triangle

Other myths

• Adonis• Paris and his beauty

contest. Glory, power, or love?

• Started Trojan War• Affair with Ares• Many other affairs • Wounded during the

Trojan war after trying to save her son Aeneas

Bibliography

• http://thanasis.com/mfeb99.htm

• http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/K32.3.html

• www.pantheon.org

• http://faculty-staff.ou.edu

• www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods