Aphrodite, for the Romans Venus, is the goddess of love, beauty and sensuality. She inspired love and lust amongst gods and mortals until they went mad.
According to legend, when Cronos cut his father Uranus’ genitals off and threw them into the sea, from the spray of the waves was born Aphrodite, emerging from the water in a shell. She is said to have been born an adult and endlessly desired by everyone.
According to the Judgement of Paris, Aphrodite competed with Athena and Hera to see who was the most beautiful goddess, and Aphrodite was the chosen one.
She is a “smiley” goddess with “quick eyes” and her influence extends throughout the florid fields, the abundant harvests and the miracle of birth.
Hera was the mother of Hephaestus, who was the god of fire and forges, known as Vulcan by the Romans, and he was expelled from Mount Olympus by his own mother when he was born due to his ugliness and limp.
With the blessing of Zeus and Hera, Aphrodite was going to marry Ares, Mars for the Romans, the god of war. In light of this, the gods organized a big party and showered the couple with gifts.
On the occasion of the wedding of Aphrodite and Ares, Hephaestus took revenge on his mother for having thrown him off Olympus. As the most skillful of blacksmiths, he forged a beautiful throne as a gift for Aphrodite. On seeing this, Hera thought that it was more suitable for her and sitting on it majestically, she became trapped by the arms of the throne and could not escape.
The efforts of Ares and even Zeus to free her were in vain; then was heard amongst the guests a voice which asked, “May I try?”
Zeus asked the stranger who he was and he replied, “ I don’t blame you for not recognizing me, Sir, the last time I was on Olympus I was just a newborn baby, I am Hephaestus, your first born son with Hera.”
Zeus said, “My son, if you can free your mother from this throne, both of us will be very grateful.” Hephaestus limped towards the throne and when he placed his hand on it, the diabolical arms immediately freed Hera. So Zeus, as a sign of gratitude, gave Aphrodite to Hephaestus as his wife.
Despite her marriage to Hephaestus, Aphrodite had many lovers, the main one being Ares, who originally was going to be her husband. Out of jealousy and as a form of revenge, Hephaestus caught Ares and Aphrodite in a web of fine golden thread when they were at the height of their passion, and Helio, the god of sun, illuminated them with his brilliant light to embarrass them in front of Mount Olympus.
With Ares, Aphrodite gave birth to Eros, Cupid for the Romans, the god of love, a child with wings that represent desire and he shot arrows from his bow, making those who received these shots fall in love.
Aphrodite also gave herself to Hermes, the messenger of the gods, known as Mercury in Roman times, and from this union was born Hermaphroditus, a being with both sexes. With Dionysus, Aphrodite gave birth to Priapus, a child with enormous genitals.
