Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty

Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of Love, Beauty and Eternal Youth

The Role of Aphrodite as a Goddess

Aphrodite was the most attractive goddess of Mount Olympus. She was the goddess of love, beauty, and eternal youth and aroused desires in gods and men, as well as in birds and animals. She was also associated with the death/rebirth of nature and humans.

Birth of Aphrodite

Aphrodite was created from the foam of the crystal waters of Paphos on the fragrant island of Cyprus, when the Titan Cronos slew his father, the major Titan Ouranos, and then threw his genitals into the sea.

Family of Aphrodite

Aphrodite was married to the lame blacksmith Hephaistos, Olympian God of iron, but her heart was set on Ares, the god of war, with whom Aphrodite had a passionate but secret love affair.
Famous children: According to one myth, Aphrodite gave birth to Eros, the winged Cupid of love, and was often accompanied by him. Other children of Aphrodite were Himeros (lust), Pothos (desire), Phobos (fear), Deimos (terror), Armonia (harmony) and the Nymph Rhode.

Personality of Aphrodite

Aphrodite may have been the most attractive goddess, but according to the Iliad (Homer's famous poem) she was a rather weak, fearsome goddess.

Appearance of Aphrodite

Aphrodite was usually depicted as a very attractive young woman who dressed elegantly and liked to wear jewelry. Her eyelashes were curved and she had a constant smile on her beautiful face. Aphrodite had a delicate neck and symbolized feminine beauty�^[2]^, ^[3].

Symbols of Aphrodite

The symbols of Aphrodite were the girdle (with which she would compel love), the shell, and the mirror.

It is said that the symbol of the female sex probably represents the mirror of Aphrodite, the upper half of the symbol representing the actual mirror and the lower half its handle.

The sacred animal of Aphrodite was the dove.