APHRODITEGoddess of love

Due to her immense beauty, Zeus was frightened that she would be the cause of violence between the other gods.

He married her off to Hephaestus, the dour, humourless smith God.

Hephaestus was overjoyed at being married to the goddess of beauty and forged her beautiful jewellery, including a girdle that made her even more irresistible to men.

Her unhappiness with her marriage caused Aphrodite to seek out companionship from others, most frequently Ares, but also Adonis.

The most famous of Aphrodite’s lovers was Ares, the god of war.

Hephaestus did not like his wife's behaviour so decided to teach her a lesson.

He forged a net of bronze links and hung it over her bed.

When the lovers were next together he dropped the net and caught them like fish.

He called the other gods to see how ridiculous they looked.

Aphrodite and Persephone both fell in love with a handsome human, Adonis.

He preferred Aphrodite and Persephone was jealous.

She told Ares that Aphrodite loved a mortal more than him.

APHRODITE AND ADONIS He was furious, and

turning into a boar, chased Adonis and gored him to death.

Where his blood fell the first anemones grew.

Adonis was sent to the underworld where Persephone was queen.

THE WRATH OF APHRODITE Despite being goddess of love Aphrodite

could become angry, just like any other goddess.

A man called Glaucus insulted her so she decided to punish him.

The night before he was due to be in a chariot race she gave his horses water from her sacred well and fed them magic herbs.

When the race started they went mad, crashing the chariot, killing Glaucus.

They then ate their former master.

PYGMALION’S REWARD Aphrodite also rewarded

her followers. Pygmalion was a sculptor

who worshipped Aphrodite, but could not find a suitable wife.

He created a statue of his ideal woman.

It was such a success that he fell in love with it, although he knew his love was hopeless.

Aphrodite felt sorry for him and brought the statue to life.

Overjoyed, Pygmalion named her Galatea and they were happily married.

APHRODITE’S CHILDREN

Aphrodite had several children.

One of her Son’s Eros made people fall in love by piercing them with golden arrows.

He was very mischievous and sometimes made unsuitable matches.

Aphrodite had another son, Aeneas, who was famous for his exploits in the Trojan war.