Aphrodite: Goddess of Love

1
Aphrodite Goddess of Love

• By Ben Goldhaber

2
Aphrodite/Venus Deity of Love and Lust

• Aphrodite commanded the passions of infatuation
  and desire.
• Aphrodite was known for her great physical beauty
  and her eternal youth, as well as for her
  frequent infatuations with mortals and other
  gods.
• Was married to Hephaestus, a metalworking god, by
  Zeus.

3
Aphrodite Symbols and Attributes

• Aphrodite, while already commanding great beauty,
  was given a girdle fashioned by Hephaestus that
  allowed her to incite lust in anyone she wanted.
• Aphrodites tree is the myrtle and the dove,
  swan, and sparrow are her birds.
• Aphrodisiacs, appropriately named, come from this
  god.

4
Aphrodite Birth

• There are two very different stories on the
  birth of the goddess of love. While one story
  says that she was the offspring of Zeus and
  Dione, another states that she came from the
  severed genitals of Ouranos. Apparently when
  Cronus overthrew his dad he castrated him, and
  the severed body part landed in the waters near
  Cyprus. The sea bean to bubble and from the foam
  rose Aphrodite, floating atop a giant clam.

5
The Story of Aphrodite and Adonis

• A long time ago in ancient Greece a boy was born,
  named Adonis. From the beginning Aphrodite
  decided to look over him and protect him, but
  being busy she could not spend all her time with
  him. So she entrusted Persephone to look over him
  some of the time. However soon love would play a
  cruel trick on its patron goddess.

6
Adonis and Aphrodite (Continued)

• Unfortunately for Aphrodite Persephone soon fell
  in love with Adonis, and refused to give him up.
  Zeus was called in to settle the dispute, and
  decided that for half of the year Adonis would
  spend his time with Aphrodite and the other half
  he stay with Persephone. Sadly this perfect
  solution would not guarantee happiness.

7
Adoniss end (Continued)

• The situation worked well for a time, and in the
  time Adonis spent with Aphrodite he loved to hunt
  in her chariot. One day she had to leave for a
  short period, and when she returned she found
  Adonis dead from a wild bull. While Aphrodite
  wept the flower anemone sprouted up on Adoniss
  remains, a crimson red plant formed from the
  mortal lovers blood.

8
Bibliography

• http//www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/olymp
  ian.html
• http//gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythaphro
  dite.htm
• http//www.paleothea.com/SortaSingles/Aphrodite.ht
  ml
• http//fyreangyl.tripod.com/Mythology/adonis.htm
• www.coloring.ws/ t/greek/aphrodite.html
• http//campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/WestC
  iv/HellenisticSculpture.CP.html