Who is Aphrodite? The most beautiful of all the Olympic goddesses, in front of whose charms were people and immortal gods powerless. The personification of love, spring and endless youth. Poets sang its beauty, and artists tried to capture on their immortal creations. The name of Aphrodite is associated with many legends and legends, which we learn about in the article.
Aphrodite - what is this deity?
Aphrodite is one of the most revered and beloved Greek goddesses. Her importance can be confirmed by the fact that she was one of the twelve great Olympians. Aphrodite is, first of all, the goddess of love and beauty. She is also the patroness of marriage and childbirth, the personification of eternal spring. The forces of Aphrodite were obedient not only to humans, but also to the immortal gods, with the exception of Athena, Artemis and Hestia. She blesses women with beauty and gives them a happy marriage, and in the hearts of men kindles the fire of true and eternal love.
Myths about the origin and life of the goddess
The ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite has Asia Minor roots. Two versions of her appearance are common. According to the variant proposed by Homer, Aphrodite was a child of the supreme god Zeus and a nymph named Dion, and was born in the usual way. The version proposed by Hesiod is more mystical. According to her, Aphrodite appeared after the Kronos ossification of Uranus. His blood fell into the sea waters and, mixed with foam, gave rise to the most beautiful goddess ever existing. The wind brought her to the shores of Cyprus, where the goddess was met by Ora. They crowned Aphrodite with a precious diadem and dressed in sparkling gold-woven robes. Wherever the goddess set foot, fragrant flowers blossomed.
When Aphrodite appeared on Olympus, all the gods were delighted with her beauty. Many wanted to marry her, but she made her chosen one Hephaestus, the patron of fire and blacksmithing. According to one version, the union of beauty and craftsmanship is the embodiment of art.
Be that as it may, this marriage was not too happy. Hephaestus spent all the time with his cousin, while Aphrodite talked with her lovers. From one of them, Ares, the goddess gave birth to three children. The fruit of her connection with Hermes was Hermaphrodite, combining the beauty of both parents. Eros is also considered the son of Aphrodite.
The cult of the goddess Aphrodite. Attributes
The ancient goddess Aphrodite was extremely popular on the island of Kiefer, where, according to legend, she was born, and in Crete. There, in Paphos, her temple was located. Also the shrines of Aphrodite were in Corinth, Messinia and Sicily.
The integral attributes of the goddess were pigeons and dolphins. Also its symbols are roses, lilies and violets. Aphrodite's strength lay in a magical belt capable of instilling passion. He made everyone, whether mortal or god, in love with his mistress. The goddess is traditionally associated with gold. Also, its attributes are considered ripe fragrant fruits, primarily ripe apples and pomegranates.
Legends related to Aphrodite
Knowing who Aphrodite is, one can recall some myths and legends associated with her name. Perhaps the most famous of them tells about how the three goddesses argued which of them was the most beautiful. It was Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. The mortal, the son of the Trojan king Paris, was to resolve their dispute. He chose Aphrodite, she promised him for this love the most beautiful of earthly women - Elena. Her abduction by Paris, according to legend, led to the start of the Trojan War.
The Greek goddess Aphrodite appears in the myth of Pygmalion. According to legend, he was a talented sculptor sculpting a statue of a beautiful girl. The more he admired her, the more he fell in love. When his feeling became so strong that he could no longer cope with it, he began to ask Aphrodite to give him a wife, similar to his sculpture. In response to prayers, the goddess revived the beautiful statue. This girl became his wife.
An interesting myth is that the husband of the goddess Hephaestus found out about her connection with Ares. Angry, he forged a golden net, extremely strong, but thin and weightless, like a spider web, and secretly attached it to the bed. Then he told his wife that he was going to leave for a few days. Without thinking twice, Aphrodite called Ares to her. In the morning, lovers found that they were cordoned off by a network and could not free themselves. Hephaestus soon appeared. Ares freed himself only by promising to pay a rich ransom, which, however, he did not.
Relations of Aphrodite and Mortals
Aphrodite had many lovers among the gods. But with mortals she had a very close relationship. One of the most famous myths is the story of the feeling of the goddess and young man Adonis. He was perhaps the strongest love of Aphrodite. Adonis was a talented hunter, the only man with whom the goddess forgot her beauty. She was afraid for his life and asked to avoid predatory animals. But one day a boar attacked Adonis, poisoned by a jealous Ares. The goddess of love and beauty could not help her chosen one, and Adonis died. Beautiful flowers grew out of his blood - anemones.
Aphrodite patronized the loving, but at the same time cruelly avenged those who rejected her help. For example, on the daughter of the priest Mirra, who did not want to perform rituals in honor of the goddess, she sent an unnatural passion for her father. Narcissus, who rejected the love of the nymph Echo, she was punished by death.
Aphrodite analogs in other cultures
Knowing who Aphrodite is, one can list the goddesses from other mythologies corresponding to her. So, for example, among the ancient Romans, the patroness of love was Venus. The ancient Egyptians had Isis as their counterpart, and the Phoenicians - Ishtar.
In Slavic mythology, there were no goddesses completely corresponding to Aphrodite. But you can identify it with Mokosh, personifying fertility. According to some mythologists, the Slavic pantheon also had its own goddess of love, the patroness of the family - Lada. However, most reputable scientists consider it a fiction.
The most beautiful in the circle of the Olympic gods
The goddess of beauty Aphrodite has deservedly been the subject of admiration and worship of many poets, sculptors, painters. Her most famous statues are Venus of Milos and Aphrodite of Cnidus.
The image of this goddess is surprisingly attractive, and not least - its duality. She favorably protects the lovers and cruelly avenges those who deny this high and bright feeling. This is the embodiment of sin, and an example of pure beauty.
So who is Aphrodite: beauty or vulgarity, spirituality or sensuality? We can say that Aphrodite is love itself in all its manifestations, earthly and sublime at the same time. And to this day she remains the most beautiful goddess in the history of mankind.