Aphrodite: mythology, worship, and cultural significance

¶ … Greek Goddess Aphrodite, the mythology of her birth and how she has interfered in the lives of man and woman throughout key mythological events such as the Trojan war and the journey of Odysseus as he traveled home to Ithaca from the battlefields of Troy. Using mythological and historical texts such as Hesoid's Theogony, and Homer's the Illiad and The Oddessey a brief understanding has been gleaned regarding the Greek Goddess: Bibliography cites five sources.

Aphrodite Goddess of Love and meddler in men's hearts

Aphrodite is known by many followers of Greek Mythology as the Goddess of Love, desire and beauty, amongst her normal immortal gifts Aphrodite also has a magical girdle, which compels those whom she desires to desire her.

Aphrodite has been given many names as the Goddess of Love the most famous being Venus, even within the mythos of the tales from Homer she is given this name as a substitute to Aphrodite, in some ways Homer and the Greek bards give the names of Gods and Goddess both Roman and Greek names as if they are writing for a classical Greco-Roman audience instead of a pure Greek one.

Mythology has two accounts of her birth, Hesiod in his Theogony tells of how when the Titan Kronos defeated his father Uranus, dismembering him and throwing the limbs into the sea, the flesh being immortal spread into a circle of white foam, it is from this foam that the goddess Aphrodite was spawned (Hesiod PG). Another story of Aphrodite's conception states that she was the daughter of the Greek God Zeus and the Goddess Dione.

Aphrodite's name literally translated means foam born, it is noted by Mythological writers that when she was first born she was attended by Eros and Himeros, however when she took her first steps and walked upon the shores of Cyprus after leaving her giant scallop she was described as a "modest and lovely Goddess," and named the Lady of Kypros.

Aphrodite's region was meant to be a land of "the sweetness of love" with girls that whispered living within, however Aphrodite's journeys and those of her children were far from love and joy, many caused bloodshed and misery as did many of the journeys of the immortals.

Aphrodite is the wife of the Greek God of Fire and the Smith of the Gods Hephaestus, her symbols are the Myrtle tree, the dove, swan and sparrow and her favorite amour is not her Husband but the notorious God of War Ares. Aphrodite represents sexual pleasure, affection and has an avid desire in the form of attraction that brings and binds people together in their hearts and minds.

During the Trojan War Aphrodite she and her lover Alexandros, better known as Paris helped bring the war into the worst and bloodiest time and also the saddest period. Alexandros (Paris) was dealt a mortal wound during one of the battles against the Achaeans (Greeks) and but the intervention of the Goddess Aphrodite would have died, Aphrodite used her immortal powers to shroud her lover in a mist, enabling him to be removed to his own perfumed bedchamber.

Again Aphrodite meddled with the hearts of men and women and urged Helen to go to the stricken Alexandros and give him comfort and love, if Helen failed to do this Aphrodite threatened to make give her a hard time with the warriors of Troy and Greece "Venus was very angry, and said, "Bold hussy, do not provoke me; if you do, I shall leave you to your fate and hate you as much as I have loved you. I will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans and Achaeans, and you shall come to a bad end." (Illiad.PG).

It must be remembered that the war with the Trojans was not all the fault of Aphrodite, it was her love for the Trojan Alexandros (Paris) and her involvement in the lives of mortals that caused the misery and death within both armies (Illiad.PG).

Once Aphrodite has rescued her lover Alexandros she again pushes her self in between the two armies, this time it is to save her son Aineias, however during her protection she is wounded in the hand by a spear from Diomedeswho has been given a gift of seeing any of the Gods who were participating in the battle from the Goddess Athene (Illiad.PG).

However Athene also advised Diomedes not to attack any of the Gods except Aphrodite "her at least you may stab." It is seen that as she is tabbed and her blood begins to pour upon the earth she flees to seek the bosom and protection of her Mother Dione, yet Zeus in his wisdom tells Aphrodite that she is not suited for warfare but should remain the Goddess of Love and Marriage (Illiad.PG).

Aphrodite as we have seen cares little for the love of her husband Hephaestus, she spends time with her mortal lover Alexandros (Paris) as is in love with the God of War Ares. Her romance with the God of War is illustrated in Homer's Odessey, where a bard sings of Aphrodite's secret affair with Ares as they lay together in the bed of Hephaestus, her husband (The Odessey PG).

Whilst the two lovers are entwined they are observed by the Sun, Helios, who informs on the two lovers to Hephaestus, who I his jealousy set a trap for the two lovers. After what can be seen as an immortal Greek divorce court and the returning of courtship gifts to Hephaestus are the two lovers released, with their separation Aphrodite returns to her home on Cyprus (The Odessey PG).

To illustrate how much Aphrodite is desired by the male Gods of Greece is the conversation between Hermes and Apollo, Hermes admits that he would be snare three times over if only he could have Aphrodite within his bed (The Odessey PG).