Aphrodite The word myth derives from the Greek mythos, which has a range of meanings from "word," through "saying" and "story," to "fiction"; the unquestioned validity of mythos can be contrasted with logos, the word whose validity or truth can be argued and demonstrated. Because myths narrate fantastic events with no attempt at proof, it is sometimes assumed that they are simply stories with no factual basis, and the word has become a synonym for falsehood or, at best, misconception. In the study of religion, however, it is important to distinguish between myths and stories that are merely untrue. The term mythology denotes both the study of myth and the body of myths belonging to a particular religious tradition. The first part of this article discusses the nature, study, functions, cultural impact, and types of myth, taking into account the various approaches to the subject offered by modern branches of knowledge. In the second part, the specialized topic of the role of animals and plants in myth is examined in some detail. Some say that in Ancient Greece, Greek myths evolved over many years like history, passed down for generations. They were stories of human kings and heroes with supernatural powers, or various prayers and rituals for specific gods. The Greeks believed their gods were a lot like humans. They believed their gods were able to have children, feelings, and live their lives the way humans did every day. However, each god had a specific duty. They each were in charge of a different aspect of life. Aphrodite was placed in charge of love, beauty, marriage, and vegetation. Many temples were built in honor of her and other gods, and each city was usually a patron to a particular god. Ceremonies were performed for the worship of the gods, and the people of the towns distributed gifts to shrines. Aphrodite had many statues carved in worship of her. Aphrodite is known as the Greek Goddess (Roman Venus) of love, desire, beauty, fertility, the sea, and vegetation. It is said that when Cronus was castrated by Uranus, and his genitalia were thrown into the sea, Aphrodite was thus born and arose on a large shell, which West Wind then carried to Cyprus where she was clothed by the Season, thus her name being translated "foam-risen." The sea nymphs dressed her and adorned her with flowers and gold. She now represents Erotic Love as a form of Divine influence, which has resulted in many men becoming capable of falling in love with her.
The most popular myth about her conceptions is that she was born from the foam of Uranus’ genitals. Uranus was in a fight with son, Cronus, who severed his sex organs and threw them into the ocean. Foam started forming near the island of Cythera and Aphrodite arose from the water. She was carried to Cyprus on a shell with the help of Zephyrus, the west winds. Cyprus is known as her actual hometown. From there the Horae, the goddesses of the hours of the day, dressed Aphrodite, and took her to Mount Olympus. There is also a more traditional story about her birth. It is believed that she might be the daughter of Zeus by his aunt Dione. Aphrodite has many children, both immortal and mortal. “As the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite is often seen naked or provocatively draped with her sacred bird, the dove, in her hand” (National Geographic 142). Even though she is the goddess of beauty, Hera is considered to be the most beautiful immortal. But during the Trojan War, Paris deems Aphrodite as the most beautiful deity.
The act of studying mythology can be an extremely unifying thing. For humans as a species, myths connect us with our collective history by allowing us to see through the eyes of our ancestors. Potentially much more than in novels, myths allow us to enter into the ancient world on a deeper level; through them we are exposed to the popular worldview and superstitions of the day. The inner workings of ancient human beings are visible, and it becomes strikingly clear that they were not all that different than we are. They experienced similar hopes and fears, they felt the rapturous beauty of falling in love, and cursed the crushing pangs of loss. They missed loved ones when they were away, anxiously counting the days and watching the horizons for their return. Seeing, breathing, speaking creatures, they were living, emotional beings. Their hearts vigorously pumped lifeblood through their capillaries until the day of their death. (Ellwood, 9)
Perhaps it would be best to begin with the originating source of the goddess. She was not born to any parents but rather came into the universe in a very violent and grotesque manner. She was born from the sea foam surrounding the castrated genitals of Uranus. During a family spat, the agitated Cronus decided to sever his own father’s sexual organs. Certainly this explains the sensuality that was passed down to Aphrodite, as offspring from these disembodied objects. However, it also goes that while she is this emblem of beauty and passion that she should also be a symbol of violent aggression. As it becomes apparent in stories of her various acts and interactions with other gods, goddesses and mortals; Aphrodite is far from innocent. In fact she has the ability to be down right vindictive and cruel.
Aphrodite was the goddess of love in Greece. She was also said to have been the most beautiful of all the Goddesses and to have been born from sea foam. Although she was beautiful, some saw her as treacherous and malicious. She was known to have a bewitching power over men that more times than not brought about their own destruction. Aphrodite also involved herself on several occasions with the affairs of the Gods and Goddesses on Mount Olympus, as well as the Greek mortals. Aphrodite was legendary for her beauty, but she was also very vain. It was her vanity that started the Trojan War. (aphrodite, 2015)
Myths relate to events, conditions, and deeds of gods or superhuman beings that are outside ordinary human life and yet basics to it” ("Myth," 2012). Mythology is said to have two particular meanings, “the corpus of myths, and the study of the myths, of a particular area: Amerindian mythology, Egyptian mythology, and so on as well as the study of myth itself” ("Mythology," 1993). In contrast, while the term myth can be used in a variety of academic settings, its main purpose is to analyze different cultures and their ways of thinking. Within the academic setting, a myth is known as a fact and over time has been changed through the many different views within a society as an effort to answer the questions of human existence. The word myth in an academic context is used as “ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions: How did the universe and the world come to be? How did we come to be here? Who are we? What are our proper, necessary, or inescapable roles as we relate to one another and to the world at large? What should our values be? How should we behave? How should we not behave? What are the consequences of behaving and not behaving in such ways” (Leonard, 2004 p.1)? My definition of a myth is a collection of false ideas put together to create
Both of them stand in contrapposto stance twisted along their axis with their weight tilted and their limbs bent, and their heads turn to left side downward. Aphrodite put her right hand over genitalia and left hand draping her garment over a large water pitcher. In contrast, the woman in The Greek Slave has her left hand over genitalia and right hand leaning on post draped with patterned cloth (Brooklyn Museum wall label). The significant different from Aphrodite is the Greek slave’s hands were bound together with chains, which indicates her social identity. Aphrodite, the goddess in Greek Mythology, engages in a trivial act out of everyday life. She has removed her clothing, draped it over a large water pitcher, and is stepping into the bath. The Greek slave has very similar pose but with her hands bound. She is not doing daily work like Aphrodite, but is leaning on post draped and probably waiting for sell. The Greek Slave is more details and smooth than Aphrodite of Knidos. Powers makes a return to ancient Greek by using the same pose with Aphrodite of Knidos, but expresses different social
The most universal version of her birth explains how she was born from sea-foam from Uranus genitals. Apparently they were floating in the sea after Uranus son, Cronus, castrated him (Martin). She rose out of the foam. Her name literally means out of foam. She was carried towards Cyprus by the West Wind and was clothed by the Seasons when she then reached the shore. Cyprus was sacred to her after that (Aphrodite History). In another translation of her birth, the poet Homer, states in his book “THE ILIAD”, that Aphrodite was the daughter of Zeus and the goddess Dione (Buxton). This version is less common.
Every ancient society and civilization has creation myths that were passed down and keep alive throughout the passing of time by word of mouth. These myths are the world’s oldest stories and are vital to these cultures because they explain their beginnings and give purpose to their existence. By analyzing and interpreting different creation myths it becomes easier to understand different cultures and their connections and relationships with heir beliefs and god(s).
Mythology was an integral part of the lives of all ancient peoples. The myths of
Απηροδιτε is her name in Greek and her name is venus in roman . ( the origin of her name is Greek ). Aphrodite’s powers are love , beauty and pleasure . Aphrodite can be found at mount Olympus or at the sea with the three beautys (Hera, Aphrodite and Athena ). She also goes to the mainland to search for love .
Have you ever heard of Aphrodite? Or maybe, the goddess of love and beauty? If you have heard of one, you have heard of the other, because, Aphrodite and the goddess of love and beauty are the same person! Every greek god has a roman name. For example, Aphrodite’s roman name is Venus, named after a person with a famous armless statue. In myths, Aphrodite is usually found on Mount Olympus or on the Island of Cypress. Aphrodite has the power of transforming something ordinary to something beautiful. Another power that Aphrodite has is attracting lots of men.
Aphrodite was one of the nine that were known as the Great Goddesses, “an awful and lovely goddess,” according to Hesiod (Theogony), born of the foam that ensued when Kronos cut off Uranos’ genitals and they fell into the sea. She first walked ashore in Cyprus, and was welcomed by the Seasons (Hours):
Born from the remains of the castration of Uranus, Aphrodite arose from the foam in the sea and became known as the goddess of love to those who worshipped her, described by Hesoid. We see another version of her this goddess’s birth as well, from the gods Zeus and Dione, leaving a double tradition of Aphrodite’s birth and a basic duality in her character. Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild things, was born to Zeus and Leto, and remained a virgin goddess who roamed the forests with her female companions. These two goddesses disagreeing viewpoints on sexual relationships naturally set them up to have a conflicting relationship, yet their well-known trait of revenge in their myths bring a similarity to both the goddess of love and of hunting. Their personalities are compared through their primary functions in Greek mythology and physical characteristics, their behavior in myths that they are involved in, their portrayal in Greek art and literature, and if and how they are worshipped in Greek religion.
What makes the depiction between Athena and Aphrodite interesting is the different ways they are portrayed even sharing the similarity of being born strictly from male only. Athena from the all-powerful king of the gods Zeus and Aphrodite from Ouronos. Though they were both born from man alone, the content of these births caused Athena to be expressed in a more dignified, respected, and superior way. Hesiod’s recount of the births of Athena and Aphrodite in his Theogony reveals the source of Athena’s superiority. According to the Theogony, Ouranos’ genitals are thrown into the sea where they mix with the sea foam to result in Aphrodite (Hesiod 180-192). Aphrodite is said to be called, by Hesiod, “Philommedes, fond of a man’s genitals” ( Hesiod, 200-201). In contrast, Hesiod writes that Athena is born from Zeus’ head (Hesiod 924) after Zeus consumes her mother Metis, the goddess whose name means wisdom, for fear of her giving birth to someone who was destined to be his match in wisdom (Hesiod 894-900).