Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love. Nobody is quite sure who her parents are, or even if she had any, for she rose out of the sea in a cloud of foam upon a seashell. Her name means “foam-risen” in Greek. The Horae (the hours and seasons) graiciously welcomed her and clothed her in rich wardrobe. They placed jewelry all over her and introduced her to the other Olympian gods.
Zeus was astounded by her beauty and was quick to give her a throne. So that there wouldn’t be any fights between the male gods, Hera gave Hephaestus, the ugliest god, Aphrodite as a wife. Hephaestus tried immensely hard to please Aphrodite, but she was often seen with different men. Aphrodite and the god of war, Ares, had an on going relationship. They were often seen together, holding hands. Once, Hephaestus created an invisible net and trapped the lovers. Zeus ordered him to free them and told Hephaestus it was his own fault for building Aphrodite the golden love girdle.
Even so, Hephaestus still considered himself very lucky and overwhelmed Aphrodite with gold and jewels. No matter what he tried, Aphrodite still found it embarrassing to be married to such a lame god. She even insisted on having separate bedrooms. For this reason, the wedding is never considered official. Aphrodite also had flings with Poseidon, Hermes and Dionysus.
Once, Persephone, queen of the underworld, and Aphrodite were in love with the same man, Adonis. The two goddesses created such a clash, that Zeus himself interfered. He decided that Adonis would spend one-third the year with Persephone, and one-third the year with Aphrodite. He was allowed to do as he wished with the last one-third year. Of course, he chose to spend that time with Aphrodite the goddess of love. Poor Adonis was killed by a wild boar sent by Ares, who was madly jealous.
Aphrodite alone started the Trojan War. She persuaded a shepherd, Paris, telling him that she would give him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, if he voted for her over Athena and Hera in a beauty contest. Paris agreed and voted for Aphrodite. He and Helen ran away to Tory. This enraged the Greek people; they built up a great Greek army and attacked the city. This was the beginning of the war.
Aphrodite was keen to help young people in love. Atalanta was a beautiful young woman trying to find love. She was an amazing huntress and as fast as a horse. She set up a contest: whoever could run faster than her would win and become her husband. Melanion, a young man, was hopelessly in love with Atalanta, but knew he could never out run her. Aphrodite was quick to help—she gave him three magical golden apples to scatter as he ran. He did what he told her and Atalanta couldn’t help but stop and look at the apples. So Melanion won the race, and the couple lived together forever.
But Aphrodite was not always pleasant and kind. She had a horrible cruel side to her that even Ares was afraid of. Once, she caught him in bed with a mortal and inflicted a curse upon him. He would now always have a desire for young mortals. When the Sirens refused to give up their virginity to gods or mortals, she turned them into birds.
Aphrodite’s famous son, Eros (cupid), always accompanied his mother. According to old writings, Eros was horribly spoiled and would go off shooting arrows at families to split them up. Nobody was immune to his deadly arrow. Eros even accidentally shot himself one, which caused disaster.
The breath of the west wind bore her
Over the sounding sea,
Up from the delicate foam,
To wave-ringed Cyprus, her isle.
And the Hours golden-wreathed
Welcomed her joyously.
They clad her in rainment immortal,
And brought her to the gods.
Wonder seized them all as they saw
Violet-crowned Cytherea.
Hymn to Aphrodite by Homer
**Zeus**
**Hera**
**Poseidon**
**Hades**
**Athena**
**Apollo**
**Artemis**
**Dionysus**
**Ares**
**Hephaestus**
**Hermes**
**Demeter**
**Hestia**
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