Aphrodite
The Goddess of Love, Beauty, and
Fertility. <3
Eros
• Aphrodite’s son and
constant companion.
• Born from her affair
with Ares
• A boy with wings and
bow and arrows as
well as a flaming
torch
• Roman name-Cupid
Aphrodite’s Temple
• The priestesses were not considered
“prostitutes.”
• Temple prostitution was when the
priestesses had intercourse with a man
who would pay
• The offerings would go to benefit the
temple
• Women would do this so Aphrodite would
bless them with large families.
Hermaphrodite
• Cleverly named child of Hermes and Aphrodite
• Nymph saw Hermaphrodite bathing and fell in
love
• Prayed to gods they would never be separated
• Gods granted her wish and bonded them
together
Pygmalion
• King of Cyprus
• Angered at immorality of women
• Created ivory statue of his ideal woman that Aphrodite
granted life to
• This formed the basis of the play Pygmalion and the
musical My Fair Lady
Myrrha
• Beautiful witch
• Great Granddaughter of Pygmalion
• Mother boasted that she was more beautiful
than Aphrodite
• As punishment, she fell in love with her father
• After 12 nights her father realized who she
was and chased her
• She turned into a myrrh tree
• Gave birth to Adonis
Anchises
• He was a mortal man,
making it inappropriate
for Aphrodite to pursue
him
• Had a form of a god
• Prince of territory nearby
Troy
• Would later be carried out
of Troy after its fall
Adonis and Aphrodite
• Aphrodite fell in love with
him after Zeus put the
desire in her heart
• Aphrodite could no longer
boast
• She went to him dressed
her best, but disguised
her goddess self
• Walk to his cabin where
he let her into his house
The Happily ever After
• Aphrodite gave birth to a child
• Told Anchises her real identity
• There son was raised by
nymphs and then given to
their father
• Prevented him from telling
anybody about it
• He bragged about it anyways
• Became lame as punishment
Other interesting facts
• Adonis, who she would
later fall in love with, was
her great-great grandson
• Had many love affairs,
cheating several times on
Hephaestus
• His wife only so Zeus
could keep the peace
• Remained however, a
virgin goddess
Symbols
• Most things considered
tokens of love now come
from her symbols
including seashells, the
evening star, many
perfumes, the rose, gold
and pearls
• Some of her more
unusual symbols are The
number 5, bees, goats,
artichokes, and a triangle
Other myths
• Adonis
• Paris and his beauty
contest. Glory, power, or
love?
• Started Trojan War
• Affair with Ares
• Many other affairs
• Wounded during the
Trojan war after trying to
save her son Aeneas
Bibliography
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http://thanasis.com/mfeb99.htm
http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/K32.3.html
www.pantheon.org
http://faculty-staff.ou.edu
www.greek-gods.info/greek-gods