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Mythology & Folklore Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [aphrodite]

Used when talking about question pertaining to the Greek goddess of love

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Why would Aphrodite be armed?

Pausanias tells us that the Spartans worshipped Aphrodite Hoplismeni (~armed) and Aphrodite Areia (~of Ares, warlike): [Paus. 3.15.10] Not far from the theatre is a sanctuary of Poseidon God of Kin, and there are hero-shrines of Cleodaeus, son of…
yannis
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Who were Aphrodite's parents?

I was looking up some stuff and I saw a quote about Aphrodite's genealogy from this page. One genealogy gives her parents as Zeus, King of the Gods, and Dione, an early earth/mother goddess. More commonly, she was believed to be born of the foam in…
michaelpri
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How did Aphrodite's promise of Helen to Paris work?

When Paris was asked to choose a recipient for the Golden Apple of Discord, he accepted Aphrodite's bribe and gave it to her in exchange for Menelaus's wife Helen. Paris later took Helen from Menelaus by force (depending on the account she might…
J.G.
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Why wouldn't Zeus give Aphrodite to Ares when he was the obvious choice?

Why did Aphrodite have to marry Hephaistos, when Ares was the obvious choice? As I understand it, the reason for the marriage to Hephaistos, was because Aphrodites' beauty caused conflict. Wouldn't it make more sense to give her to the powerful…
Nuloen The Seeker
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An ancient source for the myth of Venus' creation of red roses?

I asked a question Literature SE a few days ago, trying to make sense of some of the references in an English poem by William Drummond of Hawthornden. One portion of the poem describes Venus/Aphrodite gathering 'those fair flowers/Which of her blood…
Tom Hosker
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How did Aphrodite even help the Trojans during the Trojan war?

I am a Latin student, and currently studying the Trojan war myths How could Aphrodite, being the goddess of love (being almost as far from a war goddess as possible) help Paris and the Trojans during the Trojan war?
Quilavadon
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Did Hephaestus and Aphrodite get divorced?

I come across every now and then that the smith god and the love goddess got a divorce. But to contrast that, I read they are still together in Roman myths and times. Though I also have contrast to that and I suppose it could be a copy of the Greek…
Andrew Johnson
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What kinds of love do individual Greek gods represent?

The Greeks had four concepts for love: éros (ἔρος), storgē (στοργή), philía (φιλία) and agápe (ἀγάπη). Eros being passionate love or romantic love. Storge means love between good friends and family. Philia is translated as friendship. And agape is…
Andrew Johnson
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Why was Adonis allowed to leave the Underworld?

Adonis is a Greek hunter who caught the eye of Aphrodite. One day, he was out hunting and wounded a boar. The animal was in so much pain, it killed Adonis. Adonis died, but was allowed to leave the Underworld for part of the year to see Aphrodite.…
Andrew Johnson
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Why is Aphrodite a goddess?

If Aphrodite is the daughter of Ouranos and Gaia, why is she not a Titaness, Giantess, Erinye, or Melia? Is there a specific reason for her to be a goddess if all other gods are descendants of Cronus and Rheia?
Vavřinec Kubíček
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How did the Trojans get Aphrodite's Veil in the first place?

Long before Paris stole Helen from Menelaus and took her back to Troy with him, a move that launched the legendary Trojan War, there was another kidnapping of note. My question is related to that kidnapping. Here's the background: The Trojans lashed…
Georgia Blair
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What does Aphrodite’s magical girdle look like?

When I imagine a “girdle” I generally reach for an image from the 19th or early 20th centuries. My image of Ancient Greek fashion is more based around loose-fitting robes, tunics, and dresses, rather than the later trend toward shape-wear. And yet…
Nerrolken
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what was the reason for rape in greek myths and culture

Is the reason gods assaulted women because of Eros? Did gods and mortals alike blame Eros for their act of "passion"?
abir
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