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Aphrodite
The Goddess of Love and Beauty
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire, has one of the most captivating origin stories in Greek mythology. According to Hesiod’s Theogony, she was born from the sea foam when the severed genitals of Uranus, the sky god, were cast into the ocean by Cronus. From this foam emerged Aphrodite, fully formed and stunningly beautiful, symbolising the primal and unrestrained power of love and attraction.
Though her allure captivated all gods and mortals alike, Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the god of fire and craftsmanship. This union, however, was far from harmonious. Hephaestus, though skilled and hardworking, was often overlooked by his radiant wife. Aphrodite’s most famous lover was Ares, the god of war. Their passionate but illicit relationship was often a source of gossip among the gods, even leading to a notorious moment when Hephaestus trapped the pair in a net to expose their affair to the Olympians.
During the Trojan War, Aphrodite played a pivotal role, driven by her loyalty to Paris, the prince of Troy. She had promised him the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, as a reward for naming her the fairest goddess during the judgment of Paris. True to her word, she supported the Trojans throughout the war, even saving Paris from certain death on the battlefield.
Aphrodite’s legacy endures as a complex figure embodying both the enchanting and tumultuous aspects of love, reminding us of its beauty and its power to ignite chaos.
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