October, 2000
Camille's Report on Ancient Greece:APHRODITE
Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus. She was the goddess of love and beauty. Her roman name is Venus. Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dion. She is the mother of Eros.
Psyche loved Eros so that made Aphrodite jealous. So Aphrodite punished Psyche and made her immortal. Eros and Psyche were united.
Aphrodite was said to be the most beautiful goddess of all. A story tells how she was born from the foam of the sea. The island of Cyprus is said to be her birthplace.
Aphrodite was one of the 12 gods of Mount Olympus. Even though Aphrodite was married, her lover was Ares, god of war. Persephone was her rival for the beautiful Greek youth Adonis.
The most famous legend of Aphrodite was the cause of the Trojan War. Paris was asked to award the goddess of his choice the golden apple. The contestants were Aphrodite, Hera: and Athena. They each offered him a bribe: Hera, said if he picked her that he would be a powerful leader, Athena: that he would achieve great military fame, and Aphrodite: that he would have the fairest woman in the world. Paris chose Aphrodite an chose his prize of Helen of Troy, the wife of Greek king Menelaus. Paris' abduction of Helen was the cause of the Trojan War.
Probably of Near Eastern orgin Aphrodite was identified with the Phoencian goddess Astore and was known under a variety of cult titles including: Urania, queen of heavens. Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. Pandemos, goddess of the whole people.
BY: CAMILLE