Aphrodite-Goddess of Love and Beauty

Aphrodite was the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, lust, and all aspects of sexuality. She could drag both gods and humans to forbidden things with her beauty and whisper sweet things to them. Born near Cyprus from the severed genitalia of the sky god Uranus, Aphrodite was more important than just traditionally seen as a goddess of love.

Worshiped by men, women, and city-state officials, Aphrodite also played a role in the trade, warfare, and politics of ancient Greek cities. In addition, Aphrodite was honored as the protector of seafarers and, as expected, elite prostitutes and prostitutes. The goddess's counterpart in Roman mythology was Venus.

Born from Uranus

In mythology, the goddess was born when Kronos castrated his father Uranus (Ouranos) with a sickle and threw his genitals into the sea, after which Aphrodite appeared in the middle of the foam (aphros) that came out of the sea. In other narratives, she is the daughter of Zeus and Dioni (Titan Goddess). Hesiod is based on the first narrative and Homer on the second narrative.

For this reason, the Greeks were in trouble because of the contradiction between the two myth-makers. In fact, Plato, to reconcile these two ancient writers, suggested that these two goddesses were actually different persons with the same name; one represented (in her opinion) greater love between men, and the other represented love between men and women. Plato called them 'Heavenly Aphrodite' and 'Universal Aphrodite', respectively.

Believed to have been born close to Cyprus, Aphrodite was worshiped, especially at Paphos on the island - this geographical location indicates her eastern origins, goddess of fertility and possible evolution from the Phoenician goddess Astarte or the Near Eastern goddess Inanna (Ishtar). Two regions of Greece and the Near East, BC. They witnessed intense cultural exchange before the 8th century BC Archaic Period, possibly BC.

This is why it is important that the 5th century Greek historian Herodotus states that the oldest cult place of Aphrodite was in Ashkelon in Syria. It is also possible that the goddess was entirely derived from a local Cypriot god. His strong association with the candidate can be evidenced by the common name Cypris, meaning 'Cyprus'.

What is more certain of its origin is the goddess's nativity, her association with the sea, which later became prominent in many coastal temples dedicated to her, and her many common epithets, such as Aphrodite Pontia ('deep sea') and Aphrodite Euploia ('just voyage'). Aphrodite was associated with Venus, the brightest planet, and this could always indicate a valuable guiding aid, another connection with ancient sailors.

Hephaestus & Ares

Forced by Hera to marry Hephaestus, the not-so-attractive lame god of fire and crafts, Aphrodite proved not at all faithful by having notorious relationships with the gods Ares, Hermes, and Dionysus. His brief relationship with Ares was perhaps the most surprising of the many deceptions that had occurred within the Olympian Gods.

Hephaestus, a designer and engineer with a demonic mind, created a special gold bed to trap his wife. In the most passionate time of Aphrodite and Ares, the bed revealed golden chains that locked the naked gods in their forbidden embrace. They were even more embarrassed when the sun god Helios shined his bright light on the couple, so that all Olympians could take a good look at the disgrace. When they were finally freed, Ares fled to Thrace and Aphrodite to Cyprus.

Aphrodite represents Eros, Harmonia (from Ares), the Trojan hero Aeneis (from Anchises), the Sicilian king Eryx (from Butes the Argonaut), and Dionysus or Adonis, Priapus (from the great sexual a gardener with an organ) is considered her mother. The goddess had a retinue of lesser gods such as Hebe (goddess of youth), Horas, 'Dike and Eirene', Themis, Graces, 'Aglaea, Euphrosyne and Thaleia', Eunomia, Daidia, Eudaimonia, Himeros (Lust) and Peitho (Persuasion) .

Aphrodite often represented mixing or 'blendling' as well as unity and harmony, and this may explain the goddess's diverse relationships, such as war and politics, areas where different groups need to work together. She herself was especially the protector of the city judges, she.