Aphrodite
Aphrodite was known as the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. The Romans referred to her as Venus. Aphrodite was also the protector of sailors. There are two stories about who Aphrodite was born from. One story says she was born from sea foam which appeared when Cronus threw Uranus’ testicles into the sea. Another story says she was born from Zeus and Dione.
The Greek myths are translated by several people so it is not uncommon to see more than one version written in the books or on the internet. To each his own. One can believe whichever story they want to. These myths were great stories about how the ancient Greeks believed the world came to be. They worshiped many gods and goddesses and there were shrines and temples built in their honor. They also made great sacrifices to the gods and goddesses they believed in. One can only read them and believe them or not believe them.
The Trojan prince, Paris, was once asked which Olympian goddess he believed was the most beautiful of Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena, he chose Aphrodite because she offered to help him win the love of the most beautiful woman in the world to him, which was Helen of Sparta, who later became Helen of Troy. The other two tried to bribe him into saying they were the most beautiful by offering him power and victory in battle. Aphrodite later supported Paris in the in the Trojan War. One story says that she tried to save her son, Aeneas (a Trojan ally), from Diomedes, who was about to kill him. Diomedes then attacked Aphrodite and wounded her wrist. She dropped her son and Apollo rescued him. She then borrowed her brother’s (Ares) chariot and she flew to her mother on Mount Olympus, where her mother healed her. It was also written that Aphrodite saved Paris just as he was about to be killed in war by Menelaus. She wrapped Paris in a mist and took him away and put him in his own bedroom in Troy. She then goes to Helen, as an elderly handmaiden, and tells her that Paris is waiting for her.
Aphrodite also intervened in the affairs of the mortal heroes. Jason once asked permission from the king of Colchis, to get the Golden Fleece from the grove where it hung. The king denied him the right to get it. The goddess Hera, who had sponsored the quest for Jason, asked Aphrodite to intervene. Aphrodite made the king’s daughter, Medea, fall in love with Jason. Medea then helped Jason succeed with his request to get the Golden Fleece. There are many more stories about Aphrodite and her fellow Olympians.
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