Aphrodite

History

Aphrodite was born from the sea. Cronus, son of Uranus, castrated his father in vengeance for his mistreatment. The parts fell into the sea and Aphrodite was created from the bloody foam. Primarily known as the goddess of love and fertility, it is less commonly known that Aphrodite was also worshipped as the Goddess of the Sea and the Goddess of War. Aphrodite was bombarded by the male gods of Olympus wanting to claim her as their wife. The situation was diffused by forcing Aphrodite to marry the lame God of Fire of the Forge, Hephaestus resulting in several affairs. One of Aphrodite's most famous lovers was the Phoenician prince Adonis, but she had to compete for his affections with her sister Persephone.

Adventures

When Adonis became a young man Aphrodite accepted him as her lover. She had to hide him in a chest to spirit him to Olympus as he was a mortal. Her sister Persephone peeked inside the box once and fell in love with Adonis. Aphrodite then had to compete for his affections and became enraged with jealously and went to Zeus for absolution. However, it was ruled by Calliope that Adonis had the right to spend time with both she and Persephone. Soon after Calliope’s son Orpheus died. It was alleged that Aphrodite either directly or indirectly had a hand in this death as revenge for not ruling in her favour. Adonis was later killed by a wild boar during a hunt. Aphrodite mourned his death, but still visited the Underworld to keep an eye on him and Persephone.

Relationships

Aphrodite was forced to marry the unattractive and physically crippled God of Fire of the Forge, Hephaestus. Aphrodite was constantly unfaithful as she thrived on her ability to be loved and admired by anyone. Her most famous affair was that with Ares, the God of War. From her many affairs she bore many children including Rhodos, Herophilus, Hermaphroditus, Priapus, Anaes. The most admired of her children is Eros (Cupid) the God of Love. Aphrodite and Hephaestus never had any children together.

Appearance

Aphrodite epitomised female beauty. She had no physical flaws and was perfectly proportioned. She was often depicted nude or in loosely draped robes displaying the magnificence of her form.

Symbols

The most famous interpretation of Aphrodite is as her Roman counterpart in Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, where she is floating in a scalloped shell on the sea. It is interesting to note that prior to this depiction, the scalloped shell was considered a symbol of the female genitals to the Greeks, they even used to same word for both. Aphrodite is also known to be the original “mother goose” as she is often portrayed sitting or riding on a variety of animals, mostly birds and geese in particular.

Evolution

Is has been theorised that Aphrodite was originally introduced to Greece from Syria due to the many parallels between Aphrodite and Astarte; spirit of sexuality, goddess of fertility and reproduction.

Aphrodite is also believed to be adopted into Roman Mythology during the formation of the Roman Empire. This transformation tamed the goddess from a goddess with great powers “capable of bestowing serene and faithful love, but also of arousing mad and fateful passions” (Retzlaff,K) into one of procreation and domestic bliss.

List of Sports

Water sports to identify with her birth from the sea:

Diving,

Water Polo,

Synchronised Swimming.

Bibliography

Greek Mythology, Pinsent. J, published 1982 by Newnes Books

Women of Mythology, Retzlaff. K, copyright 1999 by Michael Friedman Publishing Group, Inc. NY

http://www.history.com/topics/aphrodite 

http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/parisaphrodite/aphrodite.html

http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/wiggintonaphrodite/aphrodite.html

http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess_symbols_aphrodite.htm

http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/wiggintonaphrodite/aphrodite.html

http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Aphrodite.html

http://www.myplanet.net/gwyndolyn/Goddess_Study/Astarte/astarte.html

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/culture-miscellaneous/difference-between-aphrodite-and-venus/

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mythguide/aphrodite.html