Aphrodite

1151 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: All about aphrodite

Aphrodite

The image that has been produced over time about the Goddess of Desire, the renowned Aphrodite, is one of a longhaired beauty, riding atop a scallop shell to bestow her beauteous wonders upon the mortal earth and Olympus. This is an icon of femininity and perfection, the most stunning of the already statuesque gods and goddesses. Doves and sparrows are her counterparts as is the sweet and playful Cupid in later Roman myths. However, this seemingly flawless picture of delicacy and sensual delights is far from perfect. In fact, when looked at a little more closely, the mien of Aphrodite becomes distorted, her beauty playing out to actually be her curse. In the next pages we will delve into the true nature of the Love Goddess, contemplate the source of her ‘deeds’ and then determine how high a pedestal she actually rests upon.

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.

Perhaps one of the tell tale signs of this goddesses afflicted image is that he...

... middle of paper ...

...rom the rigid scales of justice. Even with the empowerment of legendary beauty the laws of nature and equality determine her ultimate fate. The tale of the Love Goddess is indeed more than meets the eye. From this conclusion it is not surprising that the common regard to Aphrodite is one in which only her beauty is recognized but not her actual basis.

Bibliography:

Works Cited

Abrams, M.H. General Editor of The Norton Anthology of English Literature.

(Sixth Ed. Vol. II) Excerpt: Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the

Rights of Women. New York, New York, W. W. Norton & Co., Inc., 1993.

Graves, Robert. The Greek Myths, Complete Edition London, England, Penguin

Books, 1960.

Harris, Stephen L. & Gloria Platzner. Classical Mythology, Images and Insights

(Second Edition). Mountain View, California, Mayfield Publishing Co.,

1998.

Show More
Related

  • The Nature of Love Explored in Plato’s Symposium

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    The speech by Pausanius in Plato’s Symposium divides the goddess Aphrodite into two beings, each responsible for a different aspect of love. To prove the existence of her double life he cites her creation. There are two versions of the birth of Aphrodite, one coming from Hesiod’s work, Theogony, where she is borne out of Uranus’ castrated genitals as they splash into the sea; the other is from Homer’s work, the Illiad, where she is said to be the daughter of Zeus and Dione. (Notes on Plato’s Symposium 180e) From these two vastly different creations she takes on two vastly different forms. Pausanius describes one of her forms as “Celestial” love. This type of love springs out of the Aphrodite created from Uranus’ genitals. This form is “wholly male” (Symposium 180c) which inspires men to be a...

    Read More

  • Aphrodite

    2164 Words  | 5 Pages

    She is the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, which would make her a Titaness, or a Titaness. 4) She is the daughter of Titans Oceanus and Tethys, making her an Oceanid. The most common origin of her birth is her being foam-born, which is what her name means. This origin says that Aphrodite arose nude and full-grown out of the foam. of the sea and riding into the shore of Cythera on a scallop shell.

    Read More

  • Women And The Role Of Women In Classical Mythology

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    The society in which classical myths took place, the Greco-Roman society was a very patriarchal one. By taking a careful gander at female characters in Greco-Roman mythology one can see that the roles women played differ greatly from the roles they play today. The light that is cast upon females in classical myths shows us the views that society had about women at the time. In classical mythology women almost always play a certain type of character, that is to say the usual type of role that was always traditionally played by women in the past, the role of the domestic housewife who is in need of a man’s protection, women in myth also tended to have some unpleasant character traits such as vanity, a tendency to be deceitful, and a volatile personality. If one compares the type of roles that ladies played in the myths with the ones they play in today’s society the differences become glaringly obvious whilst the similarities seem to dwindle down. Clearly, and certainly fortunately, society’s views on women today have greatly changed.

    Read More

  • Psychoanalytical Criticism of The Swimmer by John Cheever

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    archetypal figures: smacked the bronze backside (libido) of Aphrodite (Greek Water Goddess of love and beauty – vain and unfaithful like Neddy)

    Read More

  • The Oresteia - The War-of the-Sexes in Eumenides

    2114 Words  | 5 Pages

    In this essay I will examine the war-of the-sexes taking place in The Eumenides, the final play of The Oresteia. The plot of The Eumenides pits Orestes and Apollo (representing the male gods and, to a certain extent, male values in general) against the ghost of Clytemnestra and the Furies (equally representative of female values.) Of more vital importance, however, is whether Athene sides with the males or females throughout the play.

    Read More

  • Lysistrata Essay

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    In modern day society, female gender roles are defined in several of forms; ranging from the stereotypical concept of women being primary caretakers to women being the dominant sex. After analyzing two sources of past literature, two iconic women represent personas of both social standings. In the literary works “Genesis” of The Hebrew Bible; along with, “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes, impactful phenomenons take place in the era of these women.

    Read More

  • From Aphrodite Of Knidos To The Old Market Woman

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Greeks found this so appealing because it looked very similar to themselves in form but because Aphrodite is naked, it showed the separation from the “mere mortals” (Berz). She seems modest with her sexuality by trying to cover her genitals, but she is very strong and secure with her head high. Women were also able to compare themselves with this sculpture because it was not ideal; Aphrodite was not blonde with blue eyes, but she was as she

    Read More

  • Myth within Art and The Birth of Venus

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sexuality has played an important role in art, since its very beginning. Mythology has played a similarly important role in human culture. It is not surprising, then, that mythology, culture, art, and sexuality have a unique relationship. Botticelli’s portrayal of Venus’ birth brings together those elements to reveal how female sexuality has been portrayed as threatening and healing at the same time. In this way, Botticelli uses an existing myth to contrast with modern attitudes about sexuality, making the viewer question their own moral standards.

    Read More

  • Comparison: The Hymn to Demeter & Ovid's Metamorphosis

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    The depiction of the Greek and roman myths are given unique insights from different authors. The Hymn to Demeter and Ovid's Metamorphosis provide and insight to Demeter's love for her daughter, Persephone, and explores its affect on the surrounding environments. The theme of separation and isolation is present in both of these myths, however, in Ovid's Metamorphosis, he symbolizes the environment in important events, has characters playing different roles, and empowers female deities.

    Read More

  • Women in Ancient Greece

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Euripides, one of Ancient Greece’s most famous playwrights, could be considered as one of the earliest supporters of women’s rights. With plays such as Alcestis and Medea, he clearly puts an emphasis on the condition of women, and even integrates them in the Chorus of the latter play, a feat that was not often done in Ancient Greece. Throughout the years, it has been argued that the two central characters in each of those plays offer conflicting representations of women in those times, and I can safely say that I agree with that argument. I will expand on my view by pointing out an important similarity between Alcestis and Medea, followed by a key difference, and will finish it off by contrasting them with the Ancient Greek depiction of an “ideal woman.”

    Read More

  • Short Story Of Requis's Pond

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    “I hate you!” Aphrodite shouted at Hephaestus. “You are always seeing other women! Mortals goddesses anyone!” Fuming, Aphrodite stormed out of the house. She walked to the pond near Requis’ house to relax. Requis was a demigod. He was very strong and muscular. He could knock out anyone in his path. Requis looked out of his window and saw Aphrodite at the pond in tears. He went outside to go talk to her. Requis was very easy to talk to.

    Read More

  • Aphrodite and Demeter

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    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):

    Read More

  • The Perverse Love And Selfless Love

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Glome is a somewhat morbid place, led by King Trom, father of Orual, Redival, and Psyche. Trom is an uncharitable, malicious king who is completely selfish. Ungit, the goddess who is worshiped in Glome, shares common characteristics, proving to be a brutal and dark goddess. One who even requires blood sacrifices. Orual describes ungit saying, “She is a black stone without head or hands or face, and a very strong goddess. My old master, whom we called the Fox, said she was the same whom the Greeks call Aphrodite” (4). Aphrodite, being the goddess of love and beauty is often viewed as a gentle and kind goddess. This represents the love in which Aphrodite stands for. In contrast, Ungit being strong and dark in appearance symbolizes the love which she represents, and that in which the kingdom of Glome has come to know through worshiping her. We see this dark and powerful love through the way Trom treats his daughters, the way the priest speaks of Psyche’s sacrifice, and the way Orual loves Psyche, Bardia, and the

    Read More

  • Sexuality In Greek Society

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    Illustrated in Aristophanes comedies, sex with one’s female slaves was tolerated in Greek society (Freeman, 224). There was also a difference between sexually oriented entertainment, such as dancers or plays, and women who actually engaged in prostitution (Freeman, 217). In Homer’s tales of heroes he portrayed women being readily available simply to meet sexual drives, and in his tales they were not the same women who were chosen for wives and were not shown the same respect as a wife (Freeman, 137). This illustrates the relationship between how and what the Greeks worshiped and how they lived out their own lives, including how they related to sexuality. Sexuality was represented and worshiped through the goddesses Aphrodite and Dionysus, Aphrodite being the more tame goddess of sexuality, while Dionysus was a patron of sexual abandon (Freeman, 237-238). The festivals celebrating Dionysus were affairs where the attendees could engage in unrestrained sexual activity, essentially purging oneself of unruly sexual desires and making self-discipline more accessible the rest of the year (Freeman, 242 & 270). Aphrodite on the other hand, inspired Sappho to dedicate herself and to lead a group of women in worshiping the goddess, and throughout her life she wrote sensual, though sometimes subtle, poetry which is valued for its quality even today (Freeman,

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative-My Trip To Ithaca

    1813 Words  | 4 Pages

    I gathered my men and told them I needed valuable time to think. Of course, in this matter, they lifted me up and fanned me while walking around the realm to ensure a comfortable thinking environment. Suddenly, I heard a swish, then a dash of glitter. A womanly human figure appeared from the opening. I did not know who she was, or why she was here, yet I held a gut feeling this being would bring good to us. She too was taken to another room filled with bunks. I was not aware of this at the time, but she was Aphrodite, the goddess of love. After overhearing my enthusiastic love and compassion towards Penelope, one of the almighty immortals responded to my prayers and aided my

    Read More

More about Aphrodite

Open Document