Aphrodite summary. Aphrodite

Goddesses of ancient Greece

Artemis- Goddess of the moon and hunting, forests, animals, fertility and procreation. She was never married, she diligently protected her chastity and if she took revenge, then she did not know pity. Her silver arrows carried plague and death, but she also had the ability to heal. She guarded young girls and pregnant women. Its symbols are cypress, fallow deer and bears.

Atropos- one of the three moirs, cutting the thread of fate and ending human life.

Athena(Pallas, Parthenos) - the daughter of Zeus, born from his head in full military equipment. One of the most revered Greek goddesses, the goddess of just war and wisdom, the patroness of knowledge.

Athena. The statue. Hermitage Museum. Hall of Athens.

Description:

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, just war and the patroness of crafts.

A statue of Athena by Roman masters of the 2nd century. According to a Greek original of the end of the 5th century. BC NS. Entered the Hermitage in 1862. Previously it was in the collection of the Marquis Campana in Rome. It is one of the most interesting exhibits in the Hall of Athena.

Everything in Athena since birth has been amazing. Other goddesses had divine mothers, Athena had one father, Zeus, who became akin to Ocean's daughter Metis. Zeus swallowed his pregnant wife, as she predicted that after her daughter she would give birth to a son who would become the ruler of heaven and deprive him of his power. Soon Zeus had an unbearable headache. He darkened, and, seeing this, the gods hastened to leave, for they knew from experience what Zeus is like when he is in a bad mood. The pain did not go away. The Lord of Olympus could not find a place for himself. Zeus asked Hephaestus to hit him on the head with a blacksmith's hammer. From the split head of Zeus, announcing Olympus with a war cry, an adult maiden in full warrior clothes and with a spear in her hand jumped out and stood next to her parent. The eyes of the young, beautiful and majestic goddess shone with wisdom.

Aphrodite(Kifera, Urania) - the goddess of love and beauty. She was born from the marriage of Zeus and the goddess Dione (according to another legend, she came out of sea foam)

Aphrodite (Venus Tauride)

Description:

According to the "Theogony" of Hesiod, Aphrodite was born near the island of Kiefer from the seed and blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed a snow-white foam (hence the nickname "froth-born"). The breeze brought her to the island of Cyprus (or she sailed there herself, because she did not like Kiefer), where she, emerging from the sea waves, was met by Ora.

The statue of Aphrodite (Venus of Tauride) dates back to the 3rd century BC. e., now it is in the Hermitage and is considered its most famous statue. The sculpture became the first antique statue of a nude woman in Russia. Life-size marble statue of bathing Venus (height 167 cm), modeled on Aphrodite of Cnidus or Venus of Capitoline. The arms of the statue and a fragment of the nose are lost. Before entering the State Hermitage, she decorated the garden of the Tavricheskiy Palace, hence the name. In the past, "Venus Tauride" was intended to decorate the park. However, the statue was delivered to Russia much earlier, even during the reign of Peter I and thanks to his efforts. The inscription on the bronze ring of the pedestal reminds that Venus was donated by Clement XI to Peter I (as a result of exchange for the relics of St. Brigitte sent to Pope Peter I). The statue was discovered in 1718 during excavations in Rome. Unknown sculptor of the 3rd century. BC. depicted the naked goddess of love and beauty Venus. A slender figure, rounded, flowing silhouette lines, softly modeled body shapes - everything speaks of a healthy and chaste perception of female beauty. Along with a calm restraint (posture, facial expression), a generalized manner, alien to fractionality and fine detail, as well as a number of other features inherent in the art of the classics (V-IV centuries BC), the creator of Venus embodied in her his idea of beauty associated with the ideals of the 3rd century BC NS. (graceful proportions - high waist, somewhat elongated legs, thin neck, small head, - tilt of the figure, turn of the body and head).

Aphrodite (Venus). The statue. hermitage Museum

Description:

Statue of Aphrodite - the goddess of beauty and love

Roman copy after a Greek original of the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC.

In 1851, through the Venetian antiquary A. Sankviriko, the Hermitage received a beautiful statue of Aphrodite, which was previously part of the collection of the Venetian family of Nani. In a rare edition of the era of the Napoleonic wars - "Collection of all antiquities kept in the Venetian Museum of Nani" - we read about this sculpture: "It lay for a long time defeated in neglect ... but was called out of oblivion when Mr. Jacopo Nani saw it and placed it in his famous museum, presenting it to the court of the famous Canova, who greatly praised the new acquisition. " The statue of Aphrodite is distinguished by the complexity of body movement and exquisite slender proportions. It reflects the tendencies of Hellenistic art, characteristic of the art of the time of the Antonine dynasty (96-193).

Aphrodite (Venus) and Cupid

Description:

Aphrodite (Venus) and Cupid.

The sculpture probably tells about a tragic moment. The rose, sacred to Venus, was originally white, but according to one traditional view, at the moment when Venus hurried to her lover, a thorn dug into her leg and drops of blood fell on the white petals, staining them. While they were pulling out the splinter, the wild boar killed her beloved Adonis - the young beautiful god of spring, who personifies the annual dying and revival of nature .. Usually Venus is depicted sitting, she is trying to remove a splinter from her leg, Cupid helps her.

Aphrodite on a dolphin. Sculpture. hermitage Museum

Description:

Myrtle, rose, poppy and apple were dedicated to Aphrodite, as the goddess of love; as the goddess of fertility - a sparrow and a dove; like a sea goddess - a dolphin; a swallow and a linden were dedicated to her. According to legend, the secret of her charm was hidden in a magic belt.

Venus in the shell. Sculpture. Hermitage Museum.

Description:

Venus in the shell.

Sculpture Carlo Finelli (Finelli, 1782-1853) - Italian sculptor, one of the most talented followers of the classical movement.

Aphrodite (Greek) - Venus (Roman)

Classical Aphrodite emerged nude from airy sea foam. The breeze on the sink brought her to the shores of Cyprus.

Hebe- the daughter of Zeus and Hera, the goddess of youth. Sister of Ares and Ilithia. Served the Olympian gods at feasts.

Hecate- the goddess of darkness, night visions and sorcery, the patroness of sorcerers.

Hemera- the goddess of daylight, the personification of the day, born of Nikta and Erebus. She was often identified with Eos.

Hera- the supreme Olympic goddess, sister and third wife of Zeus, daughter of Rhea and Kronos, sister of Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Poseidon. Hera was considered the patroness of marriage.

Hestia- the goddess of the hearth and fire.

Gaia- mother earth, foremother of all gods and people.

Demeter- the goddess of fertility and agriculture.

Dryads- lower deities, nymphs who lived in trees.

Ilithia- the patron goddess of women in labor.

Iris- the winged goddess, Hera's helper, messenger of the gods.

Calliope- the muse of epic poetry and science.

Kera- demonic creatures, children of the goddess Nikta, bringing people misfortune and death.

Clio- one of the nine muses, muse of history.

Clio. Muse of history

Description:

Clea is the muse of history in ancient Greek mythology. Depicted with a papyrus scroll or a scroll case. The daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne is the goddess of memory. According to Diodorus, it got its name from the fact that chanting in poetry gives great glory to the praised (cleos)

Clotho("Spinning") - one of the moira, spinning the thread of human life.

Lachesis- one of the three moir sisters, determining the fate of each person even before birth.

Summer- Titanide, mother of Apollo and Artemis.

Mayan- a mountain nymph, the eldest of the seven pleiads - the daughters of Atlanta, the beloved of Zeus, from whom Hermes was born.

Melpomene- the muse of tragedy.

Melpomene (Muse of tragedy)

Description:

Statue of Melpomene. Roman copy after a Greek model of the 2nd century BCE. BC NS.

In ancient Greek mythology, the muse of tragedy (Greek "singing"). At first, Melpomene was considered the muse of the song, then the sad song, and later she becomes the patroness of the theater in general, the personification of the tragic performing arts. Daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, mother of terrible sirens.

She was depicted as a woman with a bandage on her head and in a wreath of grape or ivy leaves, in a theatrical mantle, with a tragic mask in one hand and a sword or club in the other (a symbol of the inevitability of punishment for a person who violates the will of the gods).

Metis- the goddess of wisdom, the first of the three wives of Zeus, who conceived Athena from him.

Mnemosyne- the mother of nine muses, the goddess of memory.

Moira- the goddess of fate, daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Muses- the patron goddess of the arts and sciences.

Naiads- nymphs-keepers of waters.

Nemesis- the daughter of Nikta, the goddess, personifying, destiny and retribution, punishing people in accordance with their sins.

Nereids- fifty daughters of Nereus and the oceanids Doris, sea deities.

Nika- personification of victory. She was often depicted with a wreath, a symbol of triumph common in Greece.

Nymphs- the lowest deities in the hierarchy of the Greek gods. They personified the forces of nature.

Nikta- one of the first Greek deities, the goddess is the personification of the primordial Night.

Orestiads- mountain nymphs.

Ora- the goddess of the seasons, tranquility and order, the daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Peyto- the goddess of persuasion, the companion of Aphrodite, who was often identified with her patroness.

Persephone- the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, the goddess of fertility. The wife of Hades and the queen of the underworld, who knew the secrets of life and death.

Polyhymnia- the muse of serious hymn poetry.

Tefida- daughter of Gaia and Uranus, wife of Ocean and mother of Nereids and Oceanids.

Rhea- the mother of the Olympian gods.

Sirens- female demons, half-women, half-birds, capable of changing the weather at sea.

Waist- the muse of comedy.

Terpsichore- the muse of dance art.

Terpsichore. Muse of dancing

Description:

The "Terpsichore" statue is a Roman copy after a Greek original of the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC.

Terpsichore was considered the muse of choral singing and dancing, depicted as a young woman in a dancer's pose, with a smile on her face. She had a wreath on her head, in one hand she held a lyre, and in the other a plectrum. She is "enjoying the round dances".

Tisiphon- one of the Erinias.

Tyche- the goddess of fate and chance among the Greeks, the companion of Persephone. She was portrayed as a winged woman standing on a wheel and holding a cornucopia and a ship's steering wheel.

Urania- one of the nine muses, the patroness of astronomy.

Themis- Titanide, goddess of justice and law, second wife of Zeus, mother of mountains and moir.

Charites- the goddess of female beauty, the embodiment of a kind, joyful and eternally youthful beginning of life.

Eumenides- another hypostasis of Erinyes, who were worshiped as goddesses of benevolence, who prevented misfortunes.

Eris- daughter of Nikta, sister of Ares, goddess of discord.

Erinia- the goddess of vengeance, the offspring of the underworld, punishing injustice and crime.

Erato- Muse of lyric and erotic poetry.

Eos- the goddess of the morning dawn, sister of Helios and Selena. The Greeks called her "pink-fingered".

Euterpe- the muse of lyrical chants. She was portrayed with a double flute in her hand.

- (Αφροδίτη, Venus). Daughter of Zeus and Diana, according to legend, came from sea foam. Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty, called Venus by the Romans. She was the wife of Hephaestus, but was not faithful to him. She loved the gods Ares, Dionysus, Poseidon and Hermes ... ... Encyclopedia of mythology

Aphrodite- Aphrodite. Fragment of painting of kilik. Around 460 BC NS. Aphrodite. Fragment of painting of kilik. Around 460 BC NS. Aphrodite in the myths of the ancient Greeks is the goddess of love and beauty. According to one version of the myth, Aphrodite was born from the blood of the castrated ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary "World History"

- (Greek Aphrodite, from aphros sea foam, and dyomai go out). 1) the Greek name for Venus, the goddess of love; It got its name from the fact that, according to the mythology of the Greeks, it was born from sea foam. 2) a worm from the family of dinobranchs. Dictionary of foreign ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

In the myths of the ancient Greeks, the goddess of love and beauty. According to one version of the myth, Aphrodite was born from the blood of Uranus castrated by Kronos, which fell into the sea and formed foam (hence Aphrodite is called the foam-born). She is always surrounded by roses, myrtle ... Historical Dictionary

In Greek mythology, the goddess of love and beauty, who arose from sea foam. It corresponds to the Roman Venus. Famous are the ancient Greek statues of Aphrodite Aphrodite of Cnidus (c. 350 BC, Praxiteles, known in a Roman copy) and Aphrodite of Milo (2 ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (footnote) love enjoyment of love. "Aphrodite Dula". Wed Did you understand that the dancing is in mashkerakh And your aphrodite is not all the same that the battle is in the pure field? Gr. A. Tolstoy. Death of Ioann Groznago. Explained Aphrodite (Greek miѳ.) Goddess ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

The goddess of sexual love and beauty among the ancient Greeks. The cult of A. was widespread in Greece, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean islands, among other things, Kythera (Kythera), Sicily, and especially Cyprus (Kyprida). She has mixed features ... ... Literary encyclopedia

Aphrodite- Milo. Marble. OK. 120 BC Louvre. APHRODITE, in Greek mythology, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility and eternal spring. Born from sea foam, which was formed by the blood of castrated Uranus. Aphrodite corresponds to the Roman Venus. ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Venus, Urania, Kiprida Dictionary of Russian synonyms. aphrodite noun, number of synonyms: 10 gods of love and marriage (17) ... Synonym dictionary

The Greek name for Venus, the goddess of love, is sometimes also called Afrogena, born from the foam of the sea. Aphrodisia holidays to take into account A., held in many places in Greece and M. Asia, especially in Cyprus ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Books

• Aphrodite
• Aphrodite, Pierre Louis. This edition includes the best prose works of the French poet Pierre Louis (1870-1925): the erotic novels "Aphrodite" and "The Woman and the Clown", as well as a collection of poems "Songs ...

There are many legends about Aphrodite of Ancient Greece. Is it true that she had several husbands, one of whom was her father? Did the magnificent city of Troy fall because of her wiles? What names are associated with Aphrodite in the myths of various civilizations of antiquity?

Ancient Greece myths about Aphrodite

Aphrodite in Greek mythology patronized beauty and love. She was the daughter of the almighty Zeus, and her mother was Dione, who lives at the bottom of the ocean. It was believed that Aphrodite also arose from sea foam.

Aphrodite was close in position to the cult of Astarte - in she was revered as the guardian of fertility. Her symbol was worshiped in cities on the coast of Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea. The image of the idol was also found in the colonies of Greece in the Black Sea region. In Roman mythology, Aphrodite was embodied as Venus. The most famous cults in ancient times was the Aphrodite of Cnidus Praxiteles from the 4th century. BC. and Venus de Milo from the II century. BC.

The purpose of Aphrodite was only one - the creation of love. Once there was a dispute between Athena and Aphrodite, when the latter was seen at the spinning wheel. Athena considered that the other was interfering in her affairs and presumably, after which Aphrodite left this craft and took up her duties.

The meaning of the name Aphrodite in ancient Greece

The name Aphrodite comes from Asia Minor. Its meaning is unknown, but there are two versions of its origin. According to early tradition, she was born of marriage and Dione. According to a later theory, Aphrodite was created from the blood of the Urals killed by Kronos, which fell into the sea, after which a foam formed. In this regard, her second name was Anadiomena, which means "appeared at sea."

The religious cult was assigned the functions of a complex cosmic mechanism, endowed with the most powerful energy of love. She was assigned epithets:

• "Lady of the Mountains";
• "Protector of the Seas";
• "Patroness of mothers".

Aphrodite married people and made childbirth successful. Her power spanned both mortal people and celestial inhabitants. Only Athena and Hestia with Artemis were not subordinate to the cult.

Those who did not obey the cult were under the threat of anger. On the island of Lemnos, women refused to worship this idol, for which they were endowed with a goat smell. Husbands fled from them, taking other spouses as wives.

Incarnations of Greek Aphrodite

In ancient times, cults were endowed with a similar meaning:

• Astarte - in ancient Phenicia;
• Ishtar - in the Babylonian-Assyrian tradition;
• - in Egypt.

The cult of Aphrodite was depicted surrounded by wild animals - a bear, a wolf, a powerful lion. They were all subdued by love. The evolution of the characteristics of a religious symbol is gradually taking place. From a fertile ruler, she becomes playful and shy, in this form she takes a place on Olympus.

According to legend, Aphrodite was born near the coast of Cyprus. This event is reflected in Homer's hymn to Hellas. From here comes her middle name - Cyprus, which means "born in Cyprus".

The belt became the symbol of her power. It contains magical love spells, all-embracing love, desire. Even the inhabitants of Olympus could not resist this witchcraft cult.

The first place of residence of Aphrodite, who reached the coast on a sea shell completely discovered, was the island of Kiefer. But over time, his lands seemed to her too cramped, and she moved to the Peloponnese. Her last place of residence was Paphos on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It was there that she established her first sanctuary, surrounded by fragrant gardens. The daughters of the patroness of justice - Themis, took care of her clothes and jewelry. Today, in Paphos, within the walls of an ancient Roman temple, you can find an image of Aphrodite surrounded by priestesses, bathing in the sea for youth, beauty and renewal.

In the Palace of Knossos, which has survived to this day, you can have a relief floor laid out in the form of shells. Numerous ancient burials contained cuttlefish shells inherent in the environment of Aphrodite. Some of them were made of terracotta.

Family and love affairs of Aphrodite

Aphrodite's father found her a good husband - a blacksmith Hephaestus, a resident. She gave birth to three children from marriage, Harmony, Deimos and Phobos. In fact, the father of her children was Ares - an irreconcilable cult of war. Helios found them in the Frankish palace of Ares, but was in no hurry to reveal the secret to Hephaestus.

It was believed that Aphrodite invented brothels. Several hundred beautiful women lived in her temples, delighting men.

Hephaestus suspected his wife's adventures and forged a thin, imperceptible bronze net attached to the foot of the bed. It hung in a thin cobweb from the ceiling. During another trip to Corinth, according to Aphrodite's assurance "on business", the betrayal was discovered, and Hephaestus told his wife that he was going to the island of Lemnos on vacation.

The woman immediately sent for Ares, and they reclined on the couch. Hephaestus found them naked and helpless, wrapped in a thin bronze net. In this form, he presented them to the inhabitants of Hephaestus. He asked back all the gifts from Zeus, given to the wedding, and only after that he promised to free Aphrodite from the bonds of marriage.

Hephaestus was limp and ugly. Hera, the wife of Zeus, gave him in marriage. Her goals included a plan of revenge. A number of sources mention the marriage of Ares and Aphrodite.

The sources of antiquity also contain information about the love affairs of the daughter of Zeus with Dionysus and Hermes. There is certain information about the relationship with Zeus, for example, the origin of Eros is questioned. Ares, Hermes or Zeus are named as his father according to various versions.

In the art of ancient Greece, statues of Aphrodite were depicted as a woman stepping on a turtle. The philosopher Plutarch argued that in antiquity this gesture meant humility, silence and homebody.
Aphrodite was fertile. The children she bore were both the descendants of mortal men and the inhabitants of Olympia. Among them were Hymenius, Amazons, and Harit. Aeneas, hero of the Trojan War, was considered the ancestor of Julius Caesar.

Eros, he is also in the Roman tradition Cupid and Cupid, born from the union of Aphrodite and Ares, patronized the war. He was armed with a bow with gold and lead arrows. By launching the gold one, he bestowed love, with lead ones - he killed feelings. In addition to joy and happiness, he brought torment to lovers.

Hymen became Aphrodite's companion, creating the bonds of marriage. He descended from Aphrodite and Dionysus, who creates wine.

He lit the flame of the torch of the marriage union, gave blessings to young people.

Role of Aphrodite in the Trojan War

Every man who approached Aphrodite dreamed of becoming the spouse of the daughter of Zeus. There are mythological sources indicating the unleashing of war by the Greek progenitor.

She started a dispute with the Hero and Athena, which of them is more beautiful. Their judge was Paris, who was promised as a reward the most beautiful of women and her love - Elena. At that moment, the woman had already been married to the king of Sparta, which led to the military campaign of the Greeks against Troy and the destruction of the city.

Ancient Hellas ... The land of myths and legends, the land of fearless heroes and brave sailors. Homeland of the formidable gods sitting on the high Olympus. Zeus, Ares, Apollo, Poseidon - these names are familiar to everyone from school history lessons.

Today we will talk about their wives and daughters - the omnipotent ancient goddesses of Greece who deftly manipulated their husbands, being the real mistresses of Olympus and the rulers of mortals. These great creatures ruled the world, not paying attention to the pitiful people below, because they were directors and spectators in the greatest theater in the world - Earth.

And when it was time to leave, the proud goddesses of Hellas left traces of their stay on Greek soil, albeit not as noticeable as those of the male half of the Pantheon.

Let's remember the myths about the beautiful, sometimes incredibly cruel daughters of Olympus and take a short trip to the places that are associated with them.

Goddess Hera - patroness of the hearth and family life

Hera is the goddess of ancient Greece, the highest among equals and the nominal mother of almost all other goddesses of Olympus from the fourth generation (the first generation are the creators of the world, the second are the titans, the third are the first gods).

Why? Because her husband Zeus is very far from the ideal of a faithful man.

However, Hera herself is good - in order to marry then not even the supreme god, but only the killer of Kronos (the strongest of the titans), Hera fell in love with Zeus, and then refused to become his mistress until he did not vow to make her his wife.

Moreover, the oath featured the waters of the Styx (the river that separates the world of the living and the dead, and has tremendous power over both gods and people).

In the madness of love, the oath was pronounced and Hera became the main goddess on Olympus. But Zeus soon got fed up with family life and gladly made connections on the side, which embittered Hera and forced her to look for ways to take revenge on those whom the unfaithful husband preferred, and at the same time his side children.

Hera is the goddess-keeper of the hearth and family, helps abandoned wives, punishes unfaithful husbands (which often pushes her nose to nose with the windy daughter-in-law - Aphrodite).

Hera's favorite son is Ares, the god of war, despised by his father for his love of battles and constant murder.

But the hatred of the first lady of Olympus is shared by two beings - the daughter of Zeus, Athena and the son of Zeus, Hercules, both born not by his lawful wife, but nevertheless ascended to Olympus.

In addition, Hera is hated by her own son Hephaestus, the god of crafts and the husband of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, who was thrown by the Hero from Olympus as an infant for his physical deformity.

The most ambitious trace of this cruel lady can be considered the temple of Hera in ancient Olympia.

The religious building was built at the end of the 7th century BC. NS. The massive temple has long been turned into ruins, but thanks to the efforts of several generations of archaeologists, the foundation of the temple and its surviving parts have been restored and are now open to tourists.

In addition, in the Olympia Museum, you can see fragments of statues dedicated to Hera and understand exactly how her worshipers portrayed the goddess.

The cost of a ticket to Olympia is 9 euros, which includes access to the excavation area and the museum. You can take a ticket only to the excavation zone, it will cost 6 euros.

Aphrodite - the goddess of love in ancient Greece

The beautiful Aphrodite, whose beauty could only be compared with her own frivolity, is not the daughter of Zeus or Hera, but comes from a much older family.

She is the last creation of Uranus, the first of the Titans to be castrated by Kronos during the first war for Olympus.

The blood of the titan, deprived of a certain part of the body, mixed with sea foam and from it arose an insidious and cruel beauty who hid in Cyprus from the gaze of Kronos until he was overthrown by Zeus.

Thanks to Hera's cunning plan, Aphrodite married the powerful, but ugly Hephaestus. And while he worked in his workshop, the goddess either basked on Olympus, communicating with the gods, or traveled the world, falling in love with gods and people, and falling in love herself.

The most famous lovers of the windy beauty were Adonis - a beautiful hunter in body and spirit, with whom the goddess fell in love so much that after his tragic death from the fangs of a boar, she threw herself down from the Lydian cliff.

And Ares is the god of war and destruction, who secretly sent the boar to Adonis.

It was Ares who overflowed the cup of patience of the proud Hephaestus, who set a trap for the lovers - forged a strong net, so thin that the lovers simply did not notice it when the net was thrown over the bed. In the midst of the "meeting", the trap of Hephaestus entangled the lovers and raised them above the bed.

When the god of crafts returned to Olympus, he laughed for a long time at the unlucky lovers, and the disgraced Aphrodite fled for a while to her temple in Cyprus, where she gave birth to the sons of Ares - Phobos and Deimos.

The god of war himself appreciated the elegance and softness of the trap of Hephaestus and accepted defeat with dignity, leaving the beautiful Aphrodite, who was soon forgiven by her husband.

Aphrodite is the goddess of love and love madness. She, despite her youthful appearance, is the oldest goddess on Olympus, to whom Hera often turns for help (especially in those cases when the center of love for his wife again begins to fade in Zeus). Also, Aphrodite is considered the goddess of fertility, and also one of the sea goddesses.

The beloved son of Aphrodite is Eros, aka Cupid, the god of carnal love, who always accompanies his mother. She has no permanent enemies on Olympus, but her frivolity often leads to quarrels with the Hero and Athena.

Aphrodite's greatest legacy is Paphos, a city in Greek Cyprus located in the place where she once emerged from the sea foam.

This place was appreciated not only by women, but also by men - in some parts of ancient Greece there was a belief that a girl who visited the temple of Aphrodite and entered into a relationship with a stranger in the vicinity of the temple received the blessing of the goddess of love for life.

In addition, the temple housed the bath of Aphrodite, into which the goddess sometimes descended in order to restore her beauty and youth. Greek women believed that if you enter the bath, there is every chance to preserve youth.

Nowadays, only ruins remain of the temple, open for viewing by tourists. Not far from the temple of Aphrodite in Paphos, you can always find both newlyweds and single people, because according to legend, those who find a pebble in the shape of a heart on the coast will find eternal love.

Warrior Goddess Athena

The goddess Athena is the owner of the most abnormal birth myth.

This goddess is the daughter of Zeus and his first wife Metis, the goddess of wisdom, who, according to the prophecy of Uranus, was to give birth to a son, who, in turn, would soon overthrow the thundering father.

Upon learning of his wife's pregnancy, Zeus swallowed her whole, but soon felt wild pains in his head.

Fortunately, at that time the god Hephaestus was on Olympus, who, at the request of the royal father, hit him on the sore part of the body with his hammer, splitting his skull.

From the head of Zeus emerged a woman in full military attire, who combined the wisdom of her mother and the talents of her father, becoming the first goddess of war in ancient Greece.

Later, another fan of waving a sword, Ares, was born, and he tried to claim his rights, but the goddess in numerous battles forced her brother to respect herself, proving to him that fighting madness was not enough to win.

The city of Athens is dedicated to the goddess, which she seized from Poseidon in the legendary dispute over Attica.
It was Athena who gave the Athenians a priceless gift - an olive tree.

Athena is the first commander of Olympus. During the war with the giants, the goddess fought on a par with Hercules until she realized that the gods could not win.
Then Athena retreated to Olympus and while the sons of Zeus held back the hordes of giants, she brought the head of Medusa to the battlefield, whose gaze turned the surviving soldiers into stones, or rather, into mountains.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, "smart" war and the patroness of crafts. The second name of Athena is Pallas, received in honor of her foster sister, who died through an oversight of the then girl Athena - the goddess, unwillingly, accidentally killed her friend.

Growing up, Athena became the most perspicacious of the goddesses of Olympus.

She is an eternal virgin and rarely gets into conflicts (apart from those in which her father is involved).

Athena is the most faithful of all the Olympians, and even during the exodus of the gods, she wished to stay in Greece in the hope that one day she could return to her city.

Athena has no enemies or friends on Olympus. Her martial prowess is respected by Ares, her wisdom is appreciated by Hera, and her loyalty is by Zeus, but Athena keeps her distance even with her father, preferring loneliness.

Athena has repeatedly shown herself as the guardian of Olympus, punishing mortals who declared themselves equal to the gods.

Her favorite weapon is a bow and arrow, but often she simply sends Greek heroes to her enemies, repaying them with her favor.

The greatest legacy of Athena is her city, which she repeatedly defended, including personally entering the battlefield.

Grateful Athenians built the goddess the most incredible sanctuary in Greece - the famous one.

An 11-meter statue of her was installed in the temple, made of bronze with a large amount of gold by the famous sculptor Phidias:

The statue has not survived to this day, as well as a significant part of the temple itself, but at the end of the twentieth century, the Greek government restored the legendary ruins and began searching for the removed relics, which are gradually returning to their places.

Miniature copies of the Parthenon were in many Athenian colonies, in particular in those that stood on the Black Sea coast.

Long ago, the omnipotent gods and goddesses of ancient Greece have sunk into oblivion. But there are temples dedicated to them, and their great deeds are well remembered by the descendants of those who worshiped them.

And let Greece no longer honor the mighty Olympians, having become the homeland for the Orthodox Church, let scientists try to prove that these gods never existed ... Greece remembers! He remembers the love of Zeus and the cunning of Hera, the rage of Ares and the calm power of Athena, the skill of Hephaestus and the unique beauty of Aphrodite ...
And if you come here, she will definitely tell her stories to those who want to listen.

To complete the impression of the ancient gods of Olympus, and get acquainted with the sights that are described in them.

What the tallest mountain in Greece now looks like - the legendary Olympus you will learn by reading this.

Aphrodite is one of the goddesses of Greek mythology, the goddess of beauty and love. Aphrodite is considered a symbol of life and eternal spring. She is the goddess of marriages, and also a "child-bearer" ... She engenders love in the hearts of gods and mortals. She gives the girls beauty and blesses them for a happy marriage, in the hearts of young men she kindles love and gives them happiness. No one can escape the power of Aphrodite, not even the gods.

Aphrodite is the most beautiful of all goddesses. There are many epithets to the Goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite - "Beautiful-eyed", "beautifully crowned", "sweet-minded" ... She was adored by sculptors, in slightly thrown clothes, revealing her graceful sensual body, or naked. Tall, slender, delicate, golden-haired, she is always surrounded by roses, lilies, violets, forest animals and birds. Aphrodite is served by mountains and charites. They dress the goddess in exquisite clothes, comb her beautiful golden hair, and put a sparkling tiara on her head. And the souls of people looking at the goddess are filled with unknown power and find their love.

Aphrodite is a goddess of Asia Minor origin. There are two main mythological versions of the birth of Aphrodite. According to Homer, Aphrodite was the daughter of the sea nymph Dione and Zeus, and was born in the usual way. Hesiod's version of the origin of the goddess is more mystical. In this version, it is believed that Aphrodite appeared as a result of the insidious Kronos, who cut off the genital organ of his father Uranus with a sickle and threw it into the sea waves that covered him, as a result of which the goddess arose.

Aphrodite was born near the island of Kifera from the foam of the waves of the sea. Zephyr (Light, caressing breeze) brought her to the island of Cyprus. On the shore, the young mountains met the goddess of love emerging from the waves of the sea. They dressed her in luxurious gold-woven clothing and decorated her with a wreath of fragrant flowers. Wherever Aphrodite went, flowers appeared there. A fragrant aroma reigned in the air. The gods took the beautiful goddess to Olympus. When she appeared in the palace of Zeus, everyone was madly amazed at her beauty. The mistress of heaven Hera, the queen of wisdom Athena and other goddesses envied Aphrodite and wished to get rid of her. But they did not succeed, because Aphrodite wore a magic belt, everyone obeyed her.

Aphrodite so fascinated the gods with her beauty that they all wanted to marry her, but she rejected even the offer of Zeus. As punishment, Zeus gave Aphrodite to wife Hephaestus, the ugliest of the gods, the god of fire and blacksmithing. Their marriage was unhappy. Hephaestus worked for days in his blacksmith's workshop, and Aphrodite had fun with many lovers. The goddess gave birth to four children, but not from her husband. The father of her three children was Ares, Aphrodite's lover. From Hermes, she gave birth to a son, Hermaphrodite, who inherited the beauty of both parents.

The myth of the love of Aphrodite and the handsome mortal youth Adonis is widely known. Adonis was an excellent hunter. With him, Aphrodite forgot about her beauty, she woke up in the early morning and accompanied Adonis on the hunt. The light clothes of the goddess were torn in the forest, and the delicate body was constantly wounded by stones and thorns. Aphrodite loved Adonis very much and feared for his life. She asked him not to hunt bears, wild boars and lions, so that misfortune would not happen to him. Rarely did Aphrodite leave Adonis alone, and when leaving him, she always asked him to remember her requests. But one day, under the cedars, on the top of Lebanon, a boar attacked Adonis. The goddess could not help him in time, Adonis died from a terrible wound. The goddess wept bitterly over his body, and in order to preserve the memory of him, at the behest of the goddess, a flower - a delicate anemone - grew from the blood of Adonis. And everywhere, where drops of blood dripped from the wounded legs of Aphrodite, roses grew, scarlet like the blood of Aphrodite.

The unfortunate goddess came to Zeus and prayed that he would tell him to take the soul of his beloved out of the underworld and bring him back. Zeus fulfilled her wish, and since then Adonis was with Aphrodite for half a year, and for the remaining 6 months he returned to the underworld to Hades. With his arrival spring came, and autumn announced his departure.

Aphrodite helps all lovers, but helping those in love, she does not love those who reject love (she punished Hippolytus and Narcissus with death, instilled unnatural love for Pasiphae and Mirra, and endowed Lemnos women and Hypsipila with a disgusting smell).

Aphrodite, the most beautiful of the goddesses, still lives among the inhabitants of Olympus and gives love.