Greek goddess Aphrodite once made a suggestion to everyone to “Follow your heart” (Riordan). That is one thing that Aphrodite always did as the goddess of love and beauty. She lived a famous and an extraordinary life as told through her background, strengths and weaknesses, answering prayers, and left her legacy through the temples and celebrations in her honor. Aphrodite was the daughter of Uranus. She was born from the Paphos sea in the island of Cyprus. Paphos was named after Aphrodite’s daughter. She was born when the Titan Cronus defeated her father, Uranus, and blood from Uranus fell into the sea and created Aphrodite.
In Ancient Greek, Aphrodite translates to “arisen from the foam”(Clayton). She lived on Mount Olympus. Later in her life, she married Hephaestus, but her true love was Ares. Ares was the god of war, whom she had a secret love affair with. The secret only lasted until one day Helios, the sun god, saw Aphrodite with Ares. Helios told Hephaestus about what he saw and Hephaestus set up a trap with chairs to fall and capture Ares. Hephaestus hid while he watched his plan play out. He was devastated to see his beautiful wife, whom he loved, with another man.
He cried out to the gods and said that he wished he was never born. Poseidon convinced Hephaestus to release Ares, promising that Ares would do anything that Hephaestus wanted. Hephaestus gave in and Ares was released (Atsma). However, that was not Aphrodite’s only love affair. She even had relations with Anchises, a mortal, which would undoubtedly cause death upon him. She dressed as a human woman, and he fell in love with her. They got married and had two children, Aeneas and Lyros. One day she decided not to dress in her human disguise and asked her mortal husband if he had noticed anything different.
He immediately realized who she was and began to panic. She told him that she would keep it a secret and he would be safe. She kept her promise, and Anchises was safe until one night he became very drunk and bragged to many people about his relationship with the Greek goddess, Aphrodite. Anchises was then struck by one of Zeus’ lightning bolts and died (Greek Gods). Aphrodite then went back to her affairs with Ares. Aphrodite and Ares bore 7 children. Aphrodite’s children were named Himeros, Pothos, Phopos, Deimos, Armonia, Nymph Rhode, and her most famous child, Eros (Greek Gods).
Eros, whose Roman name is Cupid, may be recognized around Valentine’s Day with his famous bow and arrow. Aphrodite attained many strengths and some weaknesses. She was known for being the most attractive goddess of them all. She wore lots of jewelry, dressed elegantly, had long eyelashes, a tender neck, and was always smiling. She was always able to convince anyone to do what she wanted through her great beauty. For example, there was a celebration one day for the marriage of King Peleus and Nymph Thestis that Eris ,the goddess of strife, was not invited to, which angered her very much.
She decided to throw a golden apple on the banquet table. An apple was known as the fruit of temptation. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all wanted the beautiful fruit. Zeus, the king, had too much trouble choosing which goddess would get to keep the apple, so he put the responsibility on Trojan Prince Paris. Aphrodite convinced him to give her the apple by offering him Helen of Sparta. Helen of Sparta was said to be the most beautiful woman of all. Helen then married the Trojan Prince Paris and became Helen of Troy (Greek Gods).
However, behind all of these attractive features, Aphrodite was said to be quite fearful and weak in Homer’s famous book, The Iliad. She was not as brave as the other gods and goddesses. She was definitely not guilty for anything she did wrong. Although, she was compassionate and caring. In a fable by Aesop, a weasel fell in love with an attractive boy, but he did not feel the same. Broken-hearted, the weasel called Aphrodite to ask to be changed into a woman. As compassionate as Aphrodite was, she transformed the weasel into a gorgeous young lady.
When the boy saw the gorgeous girl, he fell in love and married her instantly. One day, Aphrodite wanted to see if the weasel’s character had changed as well as its appearance. To test this she released a mouse into the room the girl was in. The newly transformed young woman began to chase the mouse, leaving the boy. This made Aphrodite upset, so she changed the beautiful lady back to a weasel (Greek Gods). It is evident through many stories of Aphrodite that she would to anything for love. People of prayed to Aphrodite for the ones they love to love them in return.
Often times she answered those prayers. Once, there was a man named Pygmalion, who was a sculptor. His goal was to create a sculpture of a woman that was more beautiful the most beautiful woman. He spent almost a year collecting the finest ivory and sculpting his artwork. He succeeded at his goal, and everyone loved the sculpture and believed it was more beautiful than the most beautiful woman. However, Pygmalion wished his masterpiece was a real, live woman. He went to the Temple of Aphrodite and prayed that she would transform his artwork into a human being.
She granted his wish and Pygmalion was eternally grateful (Greek Gods). Aphrodite was also involved in the death and birth of humans and nature. Once there was a baby named Adonis. Aphrodite sent Adonis to the Underworld to be raised by Persephone. Persephone was the goddess of the Underworld. Persephone became emotionally attached to Adonis, and loved him very much. When Aphrodite asked for Adonis back, she was denied by Persephone. This caused Zeus to be involved. He decided to let Adonis live with Persephone for four months of the year, and Aphrodite would have him to spend time with her for four months as well.
For the remaining four months, Adonis was permitted to choose which goddess to be with. He chose Aphrodite. The poppy plant that we know of today is said to be colored with Adonis’ blood and speckled with nectar from Aphrodite when Adonis passed away. There were also festivals in honor and remembrance of Adonis (Greek Gods). The Adonia festivals were celebrated in the springtime. During the nese festivals,women all over Greece celebrated nature with dancing and happiness. Women were the only ones that were allowed to participate in these celebrations.
Aphrodite had two festivals celebrated in her name, both of which were celebrated in her birthplace, Cyprus. The festival of Aphrodite was acknowledged in the springtime, while the festival of Kinyrades was noticed in the summer. She also had several places of Worship dedicated to her. On the island of Minos in Greece sits a statue of her that was built in 1820. The Temple of Aphrodite, which is located in Paphos, Greece. The temple was created by Agapenor, and Arcadian king, and one of Helen of Troy’s suitors. Another Temple of Aphrodite was built in Ancient Athens, Greece.
The temple has small cube-sized indents in the walls that were used as a place to put offerings. Finally, another temple in Aphrodite’s name was built in Kythira, Greece on top of Mount Paleokastro (Greek Gods). In conclusion, Aphrodite’s background, strengths and weaknesses, answering of prayers, and her legacy of temples and celebrations dedicated to her aided in her popularity among the god and goddesses. Through her many myths about her life, it is evident that she always followed her heart and encouraged others to do so as well.