The goddess Aphrodite  is the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology. She is a goddess whose beauty is admired and desired by all gods and mortals and represents love.

There are two versions of Aphrodite’s coming to life;

1- According to Hesiodos, the Goddess was born, grew up and was born in the foam on the island of Cyprus. (Uronos indirectly caused her birth. Gaia decides to stop Uranus because of what he did to her children. She asks her children to join her and Cronus volunteers.  Cronus does so. When Uranus’ genitals fall into the sea, foam forms. The Goddess is born from these foams)

2- According to Homer, the goddess Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.

She is a very beautiful goddess who is flirtatious, radiant, always smiling, but her anger, hatred and desire for revenge are strong.

The goddess of love and beauty is married to Hephaestus, the God of Fire and Iron. They have no children from this marriage.

Relationships of Goddess Aphrodite

Here are some of the Goddess’ relationships;

Ares

One of the relationships of her, the goddess of beauty and love, was with Ares, the God of War. While Ares, the God of War, was an unpopular god among gods and mortals, Aphrodite fell in love with him. The three children born from this union are Phobus (Defeat), Deimos (Fear) and Harmonia (Harmony).

Deimos and Phobus are often depicted as companions of the god Ares.

Some sources also show Eros as the child of this couple.

Who is Harmonia?

Harmonia (Harmony) is known as the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares in Greek Mythology. She married Cadmus, the founder of the city of Thebes.

According to the stories, Cadmus, after receiving the prophecy from Delphi that he would found the city of Thebes, kills Ares’ snake before founding the city. He then asks for forgiveness. This pardon is accepted. After a while, Cadmus and Harmonia get married. According to some texts, Zeus delivers the bride to Cadmus with his own hands. The gods attend this wedding and reward the couple. Harmonia is given two important gifts at the wedding. One is a dress made by the Charites, a gift from Athena or Aphrodite. The other is a necklace. Some sources say that Hephaestus made this necklace.

Fate was not bright for the couple’s children and grandchildren. The couple had 5 children (4 girls and 1 boy); Ino, Autonoe, Semele, Agave and Polydoros. Most of the children and some of the grandchildren died.

Some sources attribute this curse to Athena and Hephaestus’ grudge against Harmonia because she was the daughter of Aphrodite and Ares. According to some sources, the necklace given by Hephaestus at the wedding was in the shape of a snake and the snake was sacred to Ares. For this reason, it is said that the couple’s lineage was somehow cursed.

Who is Eros?

Eros is one of the gods in Greek Mythology, often depicted with wings and arrows.

EROS : God of Love and Desire

Known as the son of Aphrodite, Eros is the god of love and desire in Greek Mythology. Eros is mostly depicted with his wings in mythology.

In early stories, he is depicted as a beautiful and serious youth who gives gifts to young men.

Although he is mostly known as the son of Aphrodite, according to Hesoidos, Eros is one of the first beings. He came into existence immediately after chaos. For this reason, he is not described as the Goddess’s son in the early times, but as a companion of her. In later stories he is described as the goddess’ son, a mischievous and naughty boy. He spreads love with his arrows. Like her, he has the power to make mortals and immortals fall in love with whomever he wants.

According to other stories, he is not the son of Aphrodite and Ares, but of Iris and Zephyrus.

Eros is often depicted blindfolded because love is blind.

Symbols of Eros: Wings, arrow, bow and heart

Hermes

Hermaphroditus (Hermaphroditos) was born from this relationship.

Who is Hermaphroditus?

Hermaphroditus (Hermaphroditos), born as a result of the relationship between the goddess and Hermes, is someone who combines male and female characteristics in himself.

Dionysus

Priapus was born from this relationship.

The goddess had equal power among both mortals and gods. She could make anyone fall in love with anyone she wanted. From time to time, she also used this power for revenge or punishment.

Aphrodite’s most important item is her corset. This corset was an object that reflected her power because a woman wearing this corset became irresistible to anyone who saw her. The Goddess would also give this corset to other women on occasion. An example of this is seen in the Iliad. During the war, Hera asked her for a different excuse to seduce her husband Zeus, and the Goddess gave Hera what she wanted.

The Goddess’ symbols: Dove, rose, sparrow.

  • Sources;
  • Yunan Mitleri / Lucilla Burn
  • Mitoloji Sözlüğü /Azra Erhat
  • Klasik Yunan ve Roma Mitolojisi / Thomas Bulfinch
  • The Illiad /Homer
  • Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology / Luke Roman- Monica Roman