Zeus and Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is one of the most popular gods/goddesses in Greek mythology, known for her mysterious, sometimes seemingly childish personality. She is an Olympian, the goddess of love and beauty. She has many symbols, many of which are animal or having to do with love. She is found in many forms of literature, from Broadway shows to classic novels, sometimes referred to as Venus, the roman equivalent of Aphrodite. There are also many contemporary references, especially in TV shows and movies, extending as far as to video games and anime/manga.
Background
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She is the only Olympian without parents, and was instead born from the foam that rose when the seeds and blood of Ouranos’ castrated genitals mixed with the ocean water. Not surprisingly, the Greek word aphros literally means “foam”. She is always depicted as nude and fully mature, which may indicate that she never had a childhood and was a full grown woman ever since her birth from the foam. Due to her great beauty, Zeus decided to quickly find a husband for Aphrodite, to prevent violence among the Olympians. She was married off to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and craftsmen, and usually depicted as disfigured and/or lame. Aphrodite was obviously unfaithful to her husband, and had many affairs, and ultimately preferred Ares, the god of war as her true lover.
Symbols/Literary Allusions
Aphrodite has many symbols, mostly animals, including: the dolphin, myrtle, dove, sparrow, girdle, and swan, along with the mirror, the rose, an apple, and the evening star. Many literary works that reference Aphrodite can be found, starting with the most obvious, the Iliad and the Odyssey, to the more modern books such as Around the World in 80 Days and several books by Nathaniel Hawthorne, such as The Marble Faun. Most literary allusions are found between the 18th to 19th centuries; most being books, but some found in plays, such as Mourning Becomes Electra
Aphrodite is one of the most popular gods/goddesses in Greek mythology, known for her mysterious, sometimes seemingly childish personality. She is an Olympian, the goddess of love and beauty. She has many symbols, many of which are animal or having to do with love. She is found in many forms of literature, from Broadway shows to classic novels, sometimes referred to as Venus, the roman equivalent of Aphrodite. There are also many contemporary references, especially in TV shows and movies, extending as far as to video games and anime/manga.
Background
Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She is the only Olympian without parents, and was instead born from the foam that rose when the seeds and blood of Ouranos’ castrated genitals mixed with the ocean water. Not surprisingly, the Greek word aphros literally means “foam”. She is always depicted as nude and fully mature, which may indicate that she never had a childhood and was a full grown woman ever since her birth from the foam. Due to her great beauty, Zeus decided to quickly find a husband for Aphrodite, to prevent violence among the Olympians. She was married off to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and craftsmen, and usually depicted as disfigured and/or lame. Aphrodite was obviously unfaithful to her husband, and had many affairs, and ultimately preferred Ares, the god of war as her true lover.
Symbols/Literary Allusions
Aphrodite has many symbols, mostly animals, including: the dolphin, myrtle, dove, sparrow, girdle, and swan, along with the mirror, the rose, an apple, and the evening star. Many literary works that reference Aphrodite can be found, starting with the most obvious, the Iliad and the Odyssey, to the more modern books such as Around the World in 80 Days and several books by Nathaniel Hawthorne, such as The Marble Faun. Most literary allusions are found between the 18th to 19th centuries; most being books, but some found in plays, such as Mourning Becomes Electra