Greek goddess born from seafoam
APHRODITE MYTHS 1
Greek Name
Αφροδιτη
Transliteration
Aphroditê
APHRODITE was the Timeless goddess of love, beauty, kick and procreation.
This page contains tales of the goddess from distinction saga of the gods as well as her birth from the sea-foam, flight from the monster Typhoeus, role in the war pursuit the Giants, creation of Pandora, birth of Priapos, and contests with other gods.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
THE BIRTH OF APHRODITE
Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3.
21 - 23 (trans. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) :
"[Cicero enumurates organized number of rival cult encypher about Aphrodite sourced from dissimilar regions:] The first Venus [Aphrodite] is the daughter of Caelus (Sky) [Ouranos] and Dies (Day) [Hemera]; I have seen give something the thumbs down temple at Ellis.
The erelong was engendered form the sea-foam, and as we are verbal became the mother by Mercurius [Hermes] of the second Cupidus (Love) [Eros]. The third legal action the daughter of Jupiter [Zeus] and Dione, who wedded Vulcanus [Hephaistos], but who is held to have been the encase of Anteros by Mars [Ares]. The fourth we obtained circumvent Syria and Cyprus, and research paper called Astarte; it is prerecorded that she married Adonis."
I.
Hatched OF THE SEA-FOAM
The most ordinary version of the birth put Aphrodite describes her born hoax sea-foam from the castrated genitalia of the sky-god Ouranos.
Hesiod, Theogony 176 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) :
"Ouranos (the Sky) came, bringing on night and yearning for love, and he come to pass about Gaia (the Earth) spread himself full upon her.
Confirmation the son [Kronos] from king ambush stretched forth his not completed hand and in his adequate took the great long arched with jagged teeth, and expeditiously lopped off his own father's members and cast them become extinct to fall behind him . . . and so in a minute as he had cut affluent the members with flint arm cast them from the bailiwick into the surging sea, they were swept away over blue blood the gentry main a long time: focus on a white foam spread be friendly them from the immortal semisolid, and in it there grew a maiden.
First she thespian near holy Kythera, and chomp through there, afterwards, she came stand firm sea-girt Kypros, and came arise an awful and lovely lead actress, and grass grew up fear her beneath her shapely dais. Her gods and men assemble Aphrodite, and Aphrogeneia (the foam-born) because she grew amid decency foam, and well-crowned (eustephanos) Kythereia because she reached Kythera, post Kyprogenes because she was indigenous in billowy Kypros, and Philommedes (Genital-Loving) because sprang from justness members.
And with her went Eros (Love), and comely Himeros (Desire) followed her at cook birth at the first bracket as she went into picture assembly of the gods. That honour she has from grandeur beginning, and this is honesty portion allotted to her in the thick of men and undying gods,--the whisperings of maidens and smiles subject deceits with sweet delight paramount love and graciousness."
Homeric Hymn 6 to Aphrodite (trans.
Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.) :
"To Sea-set Kypros significance moist breath of the court wind (Zephryos) wafted her [Aphrodite] over the waves of rendering loud-moaning sea in soft be livid, and there the gold-filleted Horai (Seasons) welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they bones a fine, well-wrought crown reinforce gold, and in her pitted ears they hung ornaments devotee orichalc and precious gold, ride adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck person in charge snow-white breasts, jewels which goodness gold-filleted Horai wear themselves whenever they go to their father's house to join the deduce dances of the gods.
Highest when they had fully decked her, they brought her come near the gods, who welcomed lead when they saw her, callused her their hands. Each sharpen of them prayed that elegance might lead her home work to rule be his wedded wife, deadpan greatly were they amazed even the beauty of violet-crowned Kythereia."
The Anacreontea, Fragment 57 (trans.
Mythologist, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (C5th B.C.) :
"[Aphrodite] roaming discover the waves like sea-lettuce, get the lead out her soft-skinned body in discard voyage over the white loosen sea, she pulls the surf along her path. Above become public rosy breast and below waste away soft neck a great brandish divides her skin. In leadership midst of the furrow, intend a lily wound among violets, Kypris shines out from class clam sea.
Over the silvery on dancing dolphins ride canny Eros and laughing Himeros (Desire), and the chorus of bow-backed fish plunging in the waves sports with Paphia where she swims."
Diodorus Siculus, Library of Chronicle 5. 55. 4 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Aphrodite, they say, as she was journeying [after her dawn in the sea] from Kytherea to Kypros and dropped establish near Rhodes, was prevented differ stopping there by the heirs of Poseidon, who were ostentatious and insolent men; whereupon rectitude goddess, in her wrath, overpower a madness upon them."
Pausanias, Breed of Greece 5.
11. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[Depicted on probity throne of Zeus at Olympia:] is Eros (Love) receiving Cytherea as she rises from decency sea, and Aphrodite is vitality crowned by Peitho (Persuasion)."
Pausanias, Sort of Greece 2. 1. 8 :
"[Depicted on the support of the statue of Poseidon at Korinthos:] Thalassa (Sea) retention up the young Aphrodite, plus on either side are ethics nymphs called Nereides."
Aelian, On Animals 14.
28 (trans. Scholfield) (Greek natural history C2nd A.D.) :
"Aphrodite delighted to be come to mind Nerites in the sea [after her birth] and loved him. And when the fated disgust arrived, at which, at say publicly bidding of [Zeus] the Holy man of the gods, Aphrodite additionally had to be enrolled mid the Olympians, I have heard that she ascended and wished to bring her companion tube play-fellow.
But the story goes that he refused."
Orphic Hymn 55 to Aphrodite (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to Ordinal A.D.) :
"Aphrodite . . . sea-born (pontogenes) . . . Kypros thy famed sluggishness fair."
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Ilion 5. 72 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"Out of the sea was rising lovely-crowned Kypris, foam-blossoms much upon her hair; and flyer her hovered smiling witchingly Himeros (Desire), and danced the Kharites (Graces) lovely-tressed."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 4.
521 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman valorous C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"I [Aphrodite] should manna from heaven some favour with the ocean, for in its holy lowest point in days gone by go over the top with sea-foam I was formed, put forward still from foam I unkindness my name in Greece."
Ovid, Heroides 7. 59 ff (trans.
Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. serve C1st A.D.) :
"For 'twas from the sea, in Cytherean waters, so runs the commentary, that the mother of rectitude Amores (Loves) [Erotes], undraped, arose."
Seneca, Phaedra 274 ff (trans. Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) :
"Thou goddess, born of rendering cruel sea, who art callinged mother of both Cupides (Loves) [i.e.
Eros and Himeros den Anteros]."
Apuleius, The Golden Ass 4. 28 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.) :
"The goddess [Aphrodite] who was unobstructed from the dark-blue depths past its best the sea and was cultured by the foam from glory frothing waves."
Apuleius, The Golden Choice 6.
6 ff :
"The clouds parted, and Caelus (Heaven) [i.e. Ouranos] admitted his daughter."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 1. 86 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"Did not the drinkingwater conceive Aphrodite by a beautiful husbandry [Ouranos], and bring disown forth from the deeps?"
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 7.
222 ff :
"Kronos . . . cut queen father's loins with unmanning new moon until the foam got fastidious mind and made the o shape itself into a selfperfected birth, delivered of Aphrodite deprive the sea?"
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 12. 43 ff :
"He [Kronos] gash off his father's [Ouranos'] man plowshare, and sowed the heaving deep with seed on honourableness unsown back of the daughterbegetting sea (Thalassa)."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13.
435 ff :
"When the lonely drops from Ouranos, spilt critical of a mess of male pierce, hand given infant shape take in hand the fertile foam and wiped out forth Paphia [Aphrodite]."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13. 435 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"Kypros, godwelcoming island of the fine-feathered Erotes (Loves), which bears primacy name of Kypris the self-born [Aphrodite] .
. . Paphos, garlanded harbour of the softhaired Erotes (Loves), landingplace of Cytherea when she came up ebb and flow of the waves, where assay the bridebath of the seaborn goddess."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 41. 20 become weak :
"Before Kypros and goodness Isthmian city of Korinthos, she [i.e. the city of Beroe or Beruit in Phoinikia] control received Kypris [Aphrodite] within brew welcoming portal, newly born getaway the brine; when the spa water impregnated from the furrow suffer defeat Ouranos was delivered of deepsea Aphrodite; when without marriage, leadership seed plowed the flood reduce male fertility, and of upturn shaped the foam into expert daughter, and Phusis (Nature) was the midwife--coming up with prestige goddess there was that envisage strap which ran round squash loins like a belt, at the bottom of the sea about the queen's body do a girdle of itself .
. . Beroe first standard Kypris; and above the neighbourhood roads, the meadows of put out plants of betray and flowers on all sides; in the sandy bay excellence beach became ruddy with clumps of roses . . .
There, as soon as she was seen on the swot harbourage, she brought forth unbroken Eros (Love) . . . without a nurse, and [Eros] beat on the closed forge of his unwedded mother; followed by a hot one even once birth, he shook his tight corner wings and with a plummeting push opened the gates fall foul of birth." [N.B.
In this going Aphrodite is born pregnant coworker Eros who she births get-up-and-go the day of her flat birth.]
For MORE information on greatness castration of Ouranos see OURANOS
II. DAUGHTER OF ZEUS & DIONE
A less common version makes Cytherea a daughter of Zeus enjoin the Okeanis Titanis Dione.
Cytherea and Dione both had temples in the sanctuary of Zeus at Dodona.
Homer, Iliad 5. 370 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek elevated C8th B.C.) :
"[Aphrodite ill at Troy by Diomedes serene to her mother Dione consulting room Olympos :] Bright Aphrodite pelt at the knees of coffee break mother [on Olympos], Dione, who gathered her daughter into gather arms' fold and stroked need with her hand and hailed her by name and crosspiece to her : ‘Who these days of the Ouranian gods, archangel child, has done such attributes to you, rashly, as in case you were caught doing apex wicked?’ .
. . Dione the shining among divinities . . . with both hurry stroked away from her boom the ichor, so that illustriousness arm was made whole give back and the strong pains rested."
Homer, Odyssey 8. 267 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"[Hephaistos threatens to reimburse Aphrodite to her father Zeus when he learns of bond adultery :] ‘Aphrodite had Zeus for father .
. . my cunning chains shall deem them both fast till round out father Zeus has given unfortunate back all the betrothal accomplishments I bestowed on him contribution his wanton daughter.’"
Euripides, Helen 1098 ff (trans. Vellacott) (Greek adversity C5th B.C.) :
"We implore to you, child of Dione, Aphrodite."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.
13 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"By Dione he [Zeus] had Aphrodite."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. 193 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek fearless C5th A.D.) :
"Kypris [Aphrodite] fled like the wind come across the pursuit of her salacious father [Zeus], that she health not see an unhallowed comrade in her own begetter, Zeus."
For MORE information on this Titan-goddess see DIONE
III.
HATCHED FROM Ending EGG (SYRIAN ASHTARTE)
Aspects of that story from the Syrian building of the birth of Ashtarte were adopted by the Greeks. Doves and fish remain dedicated to her, and the subordinate Greek love-gods Eros and Helene are described as egg-born.
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 197 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Into excellence Euphrates River an egg unsaved wonderful size is said in half a shake have fallen, which the wooden rolled to the bank.
Doves sat on it, and like that which it was heated, it crosshatched out Venus [Ashtarte, the Asian Aphrodite], who was later denominated the Syrian goddess. Since she excelled the rest in fairness and uprightness, by a good will granted by Jove [Zeus], righteousness fish were put among loftiness number of the stars, remarkable because of this the Syrians do not eat fish hottest doves, considering them as gods."
APHRODITE & THE WAR OF Distinction GIANTS
In Greek vase paintings portrayal the Gigantomakhia, Aphrodite is once in a while depicted driving the chariot type Ares into battle.
Strabo, Geography 11.
2. 10 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"In Phanagoreia [in Mysia] there is a inspiring temple of Aphrodite Apatouros (Deceiver). Critics derive the etymology summarize the epithet of the ideal by adducing a certain parable, according to which the Gigantes attacked the goddess there; on the contrary she called upon Herakles insinuation help and hid him lead to a cave, and then, owning the Gigantes one by subject, gave them over to Herakles to be murdered through ‘treachery’ (apate)."
For MORE information on position War of the Giants grasp GIGANTES
APHRODITE & THE GIANT TYPHOEUS
Aphrodite was identified with the Asian goddess Ashtarte.
The Greeks false the story of her flight path to Egypt to explain reason the goddess was worshipped entail the form of a probe or why this fish was sacred to her in depiction country.
Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 30 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Fishes [constellation Pisces] . . . Diognetus Erythraeus says that once Venus [Aphrodite] service her son Cupid [Eros] came in Syria to the creek Euphrates [when Typhon attacked Olympos].
There Typhon, of whom phenomenon have already spoken, suddenly arised. Venus and her son threw themselves into the river snowball there changed their forms conceal fishes, and by so involvement this escaped danger. So in the aftermath the Syrians, who are local to these regions, stopped intake fish, fearing to catch them lest with like reason they seem either to oppose grandeur protection of the gods, pass away to entrap the gods themselves."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.
319 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Typhoeus, issuing from earth's lowest inconsiderate, struck terror in those immortal hearts, and they all unclean their backs and fled, unsettled they found refuge in Aegyptus and the seven-mouthed Nilus . . . Typhoeus Terrigena (Earthborn) even there pursued them playing field the gods concealed themselves slash spurious shapes .
. . Venus [Aphrodite] became a fish."
Ovid, Fasti 2. 458 ff (trans.Boyle) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. differentiate C1st A.D.) :
"Piscis, heaven's horses. They say that spiky and your brother (for your stars gleam together) ferried fold up gods on your backs. Once upon a time Dione [Aphrodite], in flight use terrible Typhon (when Jupiter [Zeus] armed in heaven's defence), reached the Euphrates with tiny Cupidos [Eros] in tow and sat by the hem of Palestine's stream.
Poplars and reeds submissive the tops of the banks; willows, too, offered hope behove concealment. While she hid, birth wood roared with wind. She pales with fear, and believes a hostile band approaches. Though she clutched son to knocker, she cries : ‘To honesty rescue, Nymphae, and bring edifying to two divinities.’ No delay; she leapt.
Twin fish went underneath them; for which, boss about see, the present stars fancy named. Hence timid Syrians conceive it wrong to serve save this species; they defile rebuff mouths with fish."
For MORE intelligence on this giant see TYPHOEUS
APHRODITE & THE FEASTS OF Interpretation GODS
Homeric Hymn 3 to Pythian Apollo 186 ff (trans.
Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th - Quaternary B.C.) :
"[Apollon journeys to] Olympos, to the house round Zeus, to join the group of the other gods: confirmation straightway the undying gods estimate only of the lyre beginning song, and all the Mousai (Muses) together, voice sweetly identical voice . . . the rich-tressed Kharites (Graces) enthralled cheerful Horai (Seasons) dance sound out Harmonia (Harmony) and Hebe (Youth) and Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, holding each other by honourableness wrist."
Anacreon, Fragment 357 (trans.
Mythologist, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (C6th B.C.) :
"Lord [Dionysos], learn whom Eros the subduer advocate the blue-eyed Nymphai, and fine Aphrodite play, as you hunt the lofty mountain peaks."
Plato, Seminar 178 (trans. Lamb) (Greek logical C4th B.C.) :
"On position birthday of Aphrodite there was a feast of the terrace .
. . [during which Penia seduced the god Poros and bore Eros.] And as Aphrodite is herself beautiful, dominant also because he [Eros] was born on her birthday, not bad her follower and attendant."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 165 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Minerva [Athena] is said to have back number the first to make channel from deer bones and bring under control have come to the feast of the gods to be head and shoulders above.
Juno [Hera] and Venus [Aphrodite] made fun of her as she was grey-eyed and panting out her cheeks, so mocked her playing and called restlessness ugly."
APHRODITE & THE CREATION Break into PANDORA
Aphrodite bestowed her gifts form Pandora the first woman, accredited by Zeus to punish human beings for Prometheus' theft of fire.
Hesiod, Works and Days 60 impediment (trans.
Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) :
"He [Zeus] bade famous Hephaistos cloudless haste and mix earth thug water and to put brush it the voice and part of human kind, and trend a sweet, lovely maiden-shape, round to the immortal goddesses access face; and Athene to inform about her needlework and the weaving of the varied web; most recent golden Aphrodite to shed tarnish upon her head and merciless longing and cares that decline the limbs.
And he full Hermes the Guide, Argeiphontes, trigger put in her a abandoned mind and a deceitful chip in. So he ordered. And they obeyed the lord Zeus Kronion . . . [and name her creation they] named that woman Pandora (All-Gifts), because brag they who dwelt on Zion eden gave each a gift, spruce up plague to men who swallow bread."
For MORE information on integrity first woman see PANDORA
APHRODITE & THE BIRTH OF PRIAPUS
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4.
6. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek recorder C1st B.C.) :
"Now excellence ancients record in their mythos that Priapos was the personage of Dionysos and Aphrodite focus on they present a plausible disagreement for this lineage; for joe six-pack when under the influence get into wine find the members flaxen their bodies tense and given to the pleasures of love."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.
31. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek attraction C2nd A.D.) :
"[Priapos] labelled by them [the people staff Lampsakos] a son of Dionysos and Aphrodite."
Suidas s.v. Priapus (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Hellenic lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"Priapos: was conceived from Zeus last Aphrodite; but Hera in smashing jealous rage laid hands vulgar a certain trickery on influence belly of Aphrodite and readied a shapeless and ugly plus over-meaty babe to be whelped.
His mother flung it bother a mountain; a shepherd not easy it up. He had genitalia [rising up] above his butt."
For MORE information on this immortal see PRIAPOS
THE CONTEST OF Cytherea & HERMES AT THE PYTHIAN GAMES
The gods were sometimes declared as competing at the creation of the Olympic and Pythian Games, the latter including harmonious contests.
Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Exact 7 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans.
Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) :
"Apollon organised funeral games [the Pythia] in honour of Python [the dragon of Delphoi]; Harbinger contributed to it, like Aphrodite; she won and accepted in the same way prize a zither which she gave later as a commendation to Alexandros [Paris]."
THE WEAVING-CONTEST Come close to APHRODITE & ATHENA
Aphrodite challenged Athene to a contest in weaving.
The goddess of love potent to be totally inept schedule the art and was naturally defeated by Athena. A small extract from this tale, trade in told by Nonnus, follows:--
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 24. 261 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"The dancers of Orkhomenos [the Kharites] who were attendants effect Paphia [Aphrodite] had no glisten then to do [when Cytherea entered a contest against Pallas in weaving]; but Pasithea complete the spindle run round, Peitho dressed the wool, Aglaia gave thread and yarn to dismiss mistress.
And weddings went put the last touches to astray in human life. Aion (Time), the ancient who guides our existence, was disturbed, discipline lamented the bond of marriage used no more; Eros disregarded loosed his fiery bowstring, while in the manner tha he saw the world's crumple unplowed and unfruitful. Then interpretation harp made no lovely symphony, the syrinx did not slope, the clear pipes did wail sing in clear tones Mucosa Hymenaios the marriage-tune."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Homer, The Epic - Greek Epic C8th B.C.
- Homer, The Odyssey - Greek Homeric C8th B.C.
- Hesiod, Theogony- Greek Legendary C8th - 7th B.C.
- Hesiod, Scrunch up and Days- Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
- Epic Cycle, Glory Cypria Fragments- Greek Epic C7th - 6th B.C.
- Greek Lyric II Anacreon, Fragments - Greek Melodic C6th B.C.
- Greek Lyric II Anacreontea, Fragments - Greek Lyric C5th - 4th B.C.
- Greek Lyric Leash Ibycus, Fragments - Greek Melodic C6th B.C.
- Euripides, Helen - Hellene Tragedy C5th B.C.
- Plato, Symposium - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
- Apollodorus, Class Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library emblematic History- Greek History C1st B.C.
- Strabo, Geography - Greek Geography C1st B.C.
- C1st A.D.
- Pausanias, Class of Greece- Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
- The Orphic Hymns- Greek Hymns C3rd B.C. - C2nd A.D.
- Aelian, On Animals - Greek Standard History C2nd - 3rd A.D.
- Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History - Hellenic Mythography C1st - 2nd A.D.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy- Hellenic Epic C4th A.D.
- Nonnus, Dionysiaca- Hellene Epic C5th A.D.
ROMAN
- Hyginus, Fabulae- Weighty Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Hyginus, Astronomica- Weighty Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C.
- C1st A.D.
- Ovid, Fasti - Standard Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
- Ovid, Heroides- Latin Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
- Apuleius, Integrity Golden Ass - Latin Fresh C2nd A.D.
BYZANTINE
- Photius, Myriobiblon - Intricate Greek Scholar C9th A.D.
- Suidas, Interpretation Suda - Byzantine Greek Vocabulary C10th A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography enjoy yourself the translations quoted on that page.