67 Aphrodite Facts To Understand The Ancient Greek Goddess Of Love

Greek mythology is filled with stories of mighty gods and goddesses.

Greek mythology is native to Greece. Hesiod mentioned it for the first time around the eighth century BC.

Have you always been attracted to stories of Greek Gods and Goddesses? How much do you know about the mighty Greek Goddess Aphrodite? This article will educate you with interesting Aphrodite facts. Let's begin.

Introduction To The Goddess Aphrodite

Greek mythology has always been a topic that allures attention from people irrespective of their age group. The stories have been attractive and unforgettable, with fascinating figures like Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, and Aphrodite. We shall focus on one such figurine today that is Goddess Aphrodite. Keep reading!

• Aphrodite is known as the Greek Goddess of love and beauty. She is known to be very beautiful.
• She is one of the 12 Olympian gods. The 12 Olympian gods are known as the essential divinities of the Greek pantheon.
• All the 12 Olympians are known to have their abode in Mount Olympus.
• Namely, the 12 Olympians are Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Ares, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hermes, Hephaestus, and Dionysus.
• Aphrodite was also the Goddess of desire, pleasure, and procreation.
• It is believed that symbols that represent Aphrodite are doves, swans, apples, roses, and myrtles.
• She used to live in Mount Olympus along with the other primal Greek deities.
• In Greek culture, Friday is the day that represents Aphrodite.
• She used to be addressed with many names such as Lady of Cyprus, Cerigo, Acidalia, and Cytherea.
• The word aphrodisiac (which means food, drink, or something that arouses desire) is derived from Aphrodite.
• Aphrodite is also known as the Roman Goddess Venus in Roman mythology.
• She is known to have a very kind and caring nature.
• The name Aphrodite is known to be derived from the word Sea foam.
• Aphrodite's worship was centrally done in Corinth in Greece.
• Aphrodite is known to be the patron goddess of prostitutes.
• Eros and Himeros are known to be constant companions of Aphrodite. Eros and Himeros are depicted in early Greek art as handsome winged men.
• The famous sculpture Venus de Milo created by Alexandros of Antioch is inspired by the Greek Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. Venus de Milo is considered one of the most famous sculptures of Greek history.
• The sculpture was found on the Greek island, Milos. It is a marble bust sculpture of a beautiful woman with broken arms.
• Historians believe Aphrodite's worship came to Greece from the East.
• Many of Aphrodite's traits are similar to those possessed by the Middle Eastern goddesses Astarte and Ishtar.
• Aphrodite has a flying chariot which is pulled by sparrows.

The Powers Of Aphrodite

Gods are known to possess powers that help them do their holy duties and eliminate evil. What were Aphrodite's powers? Let us know.

• Being the Goddess of love and beauty, her powers were love and desire.
• Also, she was immortal, which means she will be alive for all eternity.
• She is said to be extremely gorgeous, desirable, and physically flawless.
• Her other abilities included supernatural powers such as shapeshifting and manipulative love.
• Aphrodite, the Goddess of love and beauty, is said to be eternally young.
• As mentioned in the Ancient Greek religion, Aphrodite uses a magic belt as her weapon.
• The belt was powerful because it made anyone fall in love with the person wearing the belt.
• The belt was effective on both mortal lovers and gods.
• Other goddesses such as Hera would borrow this belt from Aphrodite from time to time.
• She also could make couples who were fighting to fall in love again.
• The flying chariot would allow Aphrodite to roam around different places on the earth.
• Aphrodite is known to create Pandora (the first woman) when Zeus ordered Aphrodite to do so.
• As she arose from the foams of the ocean, she is said to have somewhat control over the ocean as well.
• Aphrodite has powers that allow her to grant blessings or curse gods or mortals.
• Her husband Hephaestus provided the magical belt to her.
• She had the power to make inanimate objects come to life; for example, she granted sculptor Pygmalion a wish that made his sculpture come alive because Pygmalion was in love with the sculpture.

The Family Of Aphrodite

Do you know that the Goddess of love and beauty is part of a huge dynasty of Titans, gods, and goddesses? Do you know the Trojan war took place? This section will help you get familiar with these topics.

• Aphrodite's birth has two stories connected to it, as per sources.
• According to Hesiod's Theogony, goddess Aphrodite is the daughter of Uranus (God of the Sky according to Greek culture).
• Kronos the Titan killed his father Uranus and threw his body parts into the sea.
• She rose from the foam of the sea in Cypress, floating on a shell.
• She is also known as Lady of Cyprus and Cytherea.
• In Cypress, she met three goddesses, who clothed her in beautiful clothes and jewelry and accompanied her to Mount Olympus.
• Regarding Homer's Iliad, she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
• Siblings of Aphrodite consist of gods and goddesses such as Oceanus, Kronos, Apollo, Muses, Heracles, Athena, Ares, Artemis, and many more.
• Zeus married Aphrodite to Hephaestus (god of Blacksmith).
• Zeus was afraid that Aphrodite's beauty might start a war amongst the gods.
• To evade this war, Zeus married Aphrodite to Hephaestus forcefully.
• As per Ancient Greek mythology, Hephaestus was an ugly and lame god.
• Aphrodite was not very faithful to Hephaestus and used to establish relations out of her marriage.
• Aphrodite had many offsprings, some of which were immortal.
• Aphrodite's son Eros is also very famous in Greek mythology and is considered the Greek god of love (cupid).
• Greek god Deimos, Phobos, Himeros, Pothos, Anteros, Peitho, Harmonia are also the offspring of Aphrodite.
• In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, along with goddesses Hera and Athena, took part in a beauty contest.
• Zeus came to the conclusion that this beauty contest was to be judged by a mortal named Paris.
• The prize to be given for the beauty contest was a golden apple.
• To win it, Hera offered Paris power, Aphrodite offered Paris the love of the most beautiful mortal woman Helen, and Athena offered Paris wisdom.
• Paris chose Aphrodite as the winner of the beauty contest.
• But as per legend, when Paris went to claim Helen from a Greek king, the king refused to let go of Helen, the most beautiful mortal woman in the world.
• Paris abducted Helen and escaped to Troy. This incident started the Trojan war.

Aphrodite's Lovers

Aphrodite was involved in affairs with other men, in spite of being married to Hephaestus. How much do you know about the mortal and immortal men who were regarded as the consort of Aphrodite? Well, this section will tell you exactly that.

• Aphrodite was not loyal to Hephaestus, even after Zeus married Aphrodite to him.
• Hephaestus is the god of blacksmiths, but he was not physically attractive.
• God Hephaestus used to provide goddess Aphrodite with all kinds of jewelry and ornaments.
• Aphrodite's list of consorts among the Greek gods includes Hephaestus, Dionysus, Hermes, and Poseidon.
• The two famous Aphrodite's mortal lovers are Adonis and Anchises. Anchises and Aphrodite gave birth to their son Aeneas.
• Zeus ordered Adonis to spend six months with Aphrodite and six months with Persephone, as both of them loved Adonis dearly.
• Aphrodite's son Aeneas was a Trojan and took part in the Trojan war.
• Aphrodite and Ares birthed their son Eros, who later on became a Greek god.
• During the Trojan war, Aphrodite supported Paris and his son Aeneas because Aeneas was the Trojan prince.
• After Aphrodite won the golden apple in the beauty contest because of the decision taken by Paris, all the other goddesses were fighting against them during the Trojan War at Troy.
• Aphrodite asked the Greek god of war, Ares, to take her side during the Trojan war.
• Aphrodite is also known as a warrior goddess since she took part in the Trojan war.
• The Greek gods Hermes and Aphrodite were the parents of Hermaphroditus.
• Dionysus and Aphrodite gave birth to Priapus, the Greek god of animal and vegetable fertility.
• Aphrodite and her son Eros made Zeus fall in love with a mortal woman named Europa.
• Ares and Aphrodite had another son named Dinlas, but he was so chaotic that both of them sent Dinlas to Hades.
• Aphrodite had no offspring with Hephaestus.